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Frank Throws InThe Towel

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank’s announcement that he will not be seeking reelection follows the signing by Governor Deval Patrick of a law creating new state congressional districts in Massachusetts, according to the Boston Globe.

In past elections, Frank has depended upon votes in his hometown of Newton and also the Democratic strongholds of Fall River and New Bedford. Redistricting deprived him of New Bedford, while the conservative towns added to the reconfigured district west and south of Boston and in Bristol and Norfolk counties would have proved difficult for him.

Additionally, Frank lost status when Republicans regained control of the U.S. House.

Frank is best known for the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that heavily regulates business at a time when the nation is shedding jobs. Co-author of the bill, former U.S Senator Chris Dodd recently packed it in and, having pledged never to become a lobbyist, took a position as a lobbyist for the motion picture industry.

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dmoelling said…
I seem to remember a story about how many of the Democratic big guns came from astoundingly safe districts. There was something about how the Republicans in congress changed their leadership rules to reduce seniority factors, so their leadership had at least marginally more turnover.

Sounds like Barney was in one of those safe districts until now.
1:31 PM
Don Pesci said…
That’s right. Safe districts figure greatly in awarding chairmanships of prominent committees. This reduces turnover and assures continuity. Larson is a case in point.
7:56 PM
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