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Subscribe to RSSLongtime U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., will hold a news conference Monday to announce his retirement. NBC's Luke Russert reports.
Massachuetts Rep. Barney Frank (D) will announce Monday that he won't seek re-election in 2012, sources told NBC News.
The longtime lawmaker from the Bay State's 4th congressional district was expected announce his retirement after 16 terms in the House at an afternoon press conference.
The ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, Frank helped author the financial regulatory reform bill that passed through Congress in 2010, when Frank served as the panel's chairman. California Rep. Maxine Waters (D) is next in line to become ranking member of the committee.
Frank has long been a lightning rod in Washington, known for his characteristically blunt commentary on any and all current events. That's made him a favorite target of conservative Republicans, most recently former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who suggested in his campaigning for president that Frank be jailed for his role in crafting policies that, Gingrich claims, led to the housing crisis.
Frank is one of only three openly gay members of Congress.
A source close to the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation tells NBC News that they believe Frank's decision is due to the Congressman simply being tired and ready for a less hectic schedule.
***UPDATE*** More from NBC's Luke Russert: The source speculated that Frank realized that winning the House back in 2012 would be a big lift for Dems, that the earliest he could again be Chairman of the House Financial Services Comt would be Jan of 2015. Frank would then be 75 years old. The source also speculated that Frank's longtime boyfriend Jim Ready was tired of being a political spouse.
In 2010, Ready got into a shouting match on an airplane with a fellow passenger about Frank. The story got a ton of blog pick-up. During Frank's last election, Ready was caught on video heckling Frank's opponent Sean Bielat after a campaign rally.
Frank ended up winning comfortably against Bielat 54%-43%.
Frank was also redistricted, however since MA is such a Democratic state, his district remained largely safe.
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Another reason to look forward to Nov 2012. However the scary part of the article is Maxine Waters becomes the Financial Services Committee ranking member. Sounds a little like be careful what you wish for...
Thank God!
Now if we can just vote out the rest of the idiots
Funny that no commenter here- except the liberals defending him, ever mentioned his sexual orientation.
Has nothing to do with him being an idiot......
Barney Frank's apparent retirement is a devastating blow to the American people. Barney's tireless activism and willingness to fight in Congress for the right policies that would protect the middle-class and force the rich and powerful to be held accountable have been priceless contributions to this great nation. We need more folks like Barney Frank running things in Washington, not less. It's a sad day for the American Dream... http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Mattpfl
Wake up pal this lying POS benefited no one but himself
and the other POS @!$%# liars who supported him.
FYI There is no Santa or Easter Bunny, quit believing
what they say and see where the money goes.
There is a special place in hell for you Frank. Hope you get there sooner as later you lying POS.
He sure has done enough damage.........LMAO......finally get rid of one incompetent and now it looks like he may be followed by one even worse.......Maxine Waters......Has she cleared all those ethic violations yet? Barney does not want to be around when they finally overhaul the mess at Fannie Mae.
So the press will say what a great politician he was etc etc while avoiding the fact that this man was one of the key architects in the Freddie/Fannie debacle and collapse of the housing market and economy overall. Yes, well done Barney you narcissistic idiot. Good riddance to bad rubbish
LMAO so much negativity and it needs someplace to go. Since GOP/TP folk just can't find it in themselves to admit fault they are venting it toward Barney as if he is listening. I got a surprise for yall. Barney can take so much more than you can dish and he is unphased by dumb rants such as I have read here. You are amusing though so please go ahead and vent it is beneficial to your blood pressure.
Admit Fault for What? Let me ask you. Do you have any concept of what this man did? His backing of Freddie & Fannie? His blocking of any reforms to deal with this issue before the collapse? You speak in generalities while we are being specific about what this man has done to facilitate the housing market collapse and economic collapse and you post LMAO. Do you see this as he is a liberal so he is good? This mans failures are well documented but not shared by the left wing press so what are you defending about this idiot?
I heard that Barney Frank and Jerry Sandusky took jobs w/Oscar Myer driving the weiner mobile around the country.
Wonder why he wants to resign all of a sudden? Could it be that he is going to be investigated for his role in the housing crises? Just like Dodd he is a weasel and won't face the voters for his indiscretions. But the country has suffered because of Frank's constant blabber about everyone should be able to own a house. No problem with that, it's how he whole mess came about with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which of course Frank and Dodd oversaw.
Feisty,are you sure you are not a carpet muncher? Mattpfl, you sound like Bawney's boy toy. It will be interesting to see what dreg of society the Mass. idiots put in his place.
Holy krap, best news I've heard all year.
Thank you God. Now go spend the money you and all
your Z@@@@@@ pigs have stole from us all those
years. Pelosi your next.
Great news! America will be much better off without B. Frank pushing his agenda.
Hoping for Change in 2012
@Cliff: Barney Frank is smarter than any Conservative! When was the last time you have heard any conservative say something intelligent? You never have have!
Funny, you are a fool! That was intelligent.
"Smarter than any conservative".
You call someone who has admitted to hiring male prostitutes smart? Or who has admitted to hiring a 'personal assistant' who used his apartment for prostitution smart?
Wonder what your definition of dumb is?
do you ever wonder why any educated person,that make's an excellent living to begin with,would ever want to run for public office in the first place!!! it's so they can LIE,CHEAT,& STEAL us all into the poor house!! and they're not done yet!!! BOTH partie's are so corrupt,they all need to be replaced!! but then who do you replace them with?? i love to know what they come to washington with,and what they leave with!! i think we'd all be shocked!!!
Frank follows in the footsteps of his buddy Dodd, public servants who stole their way through Congress for as long as it took to pad their offshore bank accounts.
Good riddance!!
Thank god, the bum is gone, he did more damage to this country than anyone!
good riddens one less crook in the white house
The problem with democracy is that any idiot can vote.
Read slowly. There are three branches of government: the executive branch, the legislative branch ...
Why do I bother!!!
Barney must have looked at his bank account and realized he had more than enough money to support him and his harem. It is good to be an elected official nowadays - rebates, kickbacks, secret bank accounts, and held to a lower standard of laws - I wish many of his republican and dem buddies would join him
Thanks for your service Congressman Frank. You will be missed.
Sure! You must be an entitlement hog!
or works at Fannie Mae.....
Think Barney saw the writing on the wall....pretty well expect Obama to be a "boat-anchor" to all of the libs this coming November.
Of course, sprinkle in the Fannie/Freddie fiasco and Barney had to know he was toast.
Now I guess he is free to spend to spend more of his time in bathhouses...
WHAT do you except ? The Hens are fleeing the Chicken coop!
Dodd goes to Hollywood and Frank goes to P town !
They both should be Hanged for Treason !
good man. you could always count on knowing exactly where he stands on an issue.
Who else in Congress will have a Prostitution Ring being run out of their home, when Barney Frank is gone ?
Kinda sad isn't it.
jealous?