U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, who has been in office for more than 30 years, won't run for re-election in 2014.
Levin, 78, released at statement Thursday afternoon stating “I can best serve my state and my nation by concentrating in the next two years on the challenging issues before us … in other words, by doing my job without the "distraction of campaigning for re-election," according to the Detroit Free Press.
Levin first won a senate seat in 1978 and is the longest-serving senator in Michigan history, according to Click on Detroit.
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak issued the following statement regarding Democratic Senator Carl Levin retirement:
“Michigan families are frustrated due to the lack of leadership and failed policies put forth by the U.S. Senate perhaps the most egregious example is the failure by the Democratic-led Senate to pass a budget for nearly four years. The status-quo is not acceptable and Republicans will offer bold and aggressive leadership that will restore common sense principles to Washington.
“Michigan Republicans have a lot of strong potential candidates and we are more than ready to have a real conversation with Michigan families why Republican leadership is necessary to fix Washington. Republicans understand the importance of a budget and using common sense conservative principles that put Michigan families and workers first."
President Barack Obama called Levin a "champion" of U.S. military families.
"If you’ve ever worn the uniform, worked a shift on an assembly line, or sacrificed to make ends meet, then you’ve had a voice and a vote in Sen. Carl Levin. No one has worked harder to bring manufacturing jobs back to our shores, close unfair tax loopholes, and ensure that everyone plays by the same set of rules," Obama said in a written statement.
"As chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Sen. Levin is a true champion for all those who serve, and his tireless work will be missed not just in his home state of Michigan, but by military families across our country. Michelle and I wish Carl, Barbara and their family all the best, and I look forward to working with Carl over the next two years as we continue tackling some of our nation’s toughest challenges," he said.
You can hate Levin, or any other politician all you want, but you can't make a claim that any single individual is totally responsible for all the ills of our government without being called out on it. There is more than enough blame to go around to all current and former members of government. It is not beneficial to lay blame and say that it is all the "other guys" fault without admitting that both parties are guilty. Until people start being accountable for their own vote, how do you think we can hold the government accountable?
And we pay for benefits and will pay for health care when he retires as well-but the Union kept him working-and he works because the big guys take all the money and retire at 45 and 50. I am proud of him and his work ethics-he has never used even his allotted time off, and has never had anything handed or given to him that he didn't earn and unlike the wealthy, he has stood working for 8-12 hours a day everyday on cement floors---while the big bosses sat in cushy swivel leather chairs-drank coffee or water when they wanted-even went to the bathroom when they felt like it--- You should apologize for the insult. I swear, some people live under rocks--
I feel bad that Carl felt he had to go out showing solidarity with our Hamas pandering prez, yes the same folks that cheered 911 and launched rockets on Israel?
You know not of what you speak.
Do you realize that you are accusing a Huffington Post owned web site of carrying water for the Republicans? That's pretty funny!!! ;)
Theres plenty of posts that have been deleted since this first came online. Try not taking things out of text if you don't know what you're talking about. Thanks
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/schmoe The comment that this person made that I was referring to is gone from this thread? Wacky things happen online and I don't recall exactly what it was,but given my response it's not surprising it's no longer available.
http://freebeacon.com/under-pressure-2/
Funny thing though ... the only group that actually did have their tax exempt status denied by these offices was a single liberal one. Conservative PACs enjoying the tax exempt status of organizations like the Humane Society and Big Brother Big Sister went from about 300 before the Citizens United ruling ... to over 3000 after the GOP Acvtivist Judge ruling. So not only do teaba - ... er ... teapartiers have nothing to complain about ... the IRS was actually doing ME a favor. My only disappointment is that now they'll probably have to stop this filtering.