Transportation Committee chair steps aside

Updated Nov 29, 2012
Rep. John Mica has decided to step aside and end his push to remain the House’s Transportation Committee chairman for the 113th Congress. He was a ranking member of the committee in the 110th and 111th Congresses — 2007 through 2010 — and served as the committee’s chair in the 112th Congress, since Republicans won control of the house in 2010.Rep. John Mica has decided to step aside and end his push to remain the House’s Transportation Committee chairman for the 113th Congress. He was a ranking member of the committee in the 110th and 111th Congresses — 2007 through 2010 — and served as the committee’s chair in the 112th Congress, since Republicans won control of the house in 2010.

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) has decided to end his bid to retain chairmanship of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the U.S. House, according to a letter sent from Mica to Speaker John Boehner, obtained by Politico.

Mica was up against a term-limit implemented by the Republican Party, which allows congressmen to only serve as a committee chair or ranking member for six years. Mica wanted Boehner to give him a waiver — as he has for Rep. Paul Ryan — but Boehner denied it.

In the letter, Mica also endorsed Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) to succeed him.

See Overdrive sister site CCJ‘s report for more details.