The recent public agonizing by House Appropriations Chairman Bob Livingston, R-La., over whether to retire--he announced Thursday he had decided to stay after all--highlights the quandary many powerful committee chairmen are now facing: In short, it is not just computers that are bedeviled by a Year 2000 problem.
Under rules adopted when the GOP took control of Congress three years ago, the chairmen of standing, select, ad hoc and joint committees or subcommittees are barred from serving more than three consecutive two-year terms. Presuming the Republicans keep control, several current princes of the House could be transformed into mere rank- and-file partisans at the end of the 106th Congress in December 2000 if they choose to remain.
One House aide said several Republicans are having second thoughts about the six-year limit: While they liked the idea of term limits when Democrats were in control, the aide said Republicans "have a different perspective" now that they are in power. But at least one sitting chairman has no problem with the current rules. "Six years is a fine term limit for committee chairmen," Livingston said Thursday.
While Livingston has opted to stay for at least a couple more years--he indicated he would stay longer if Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., leaves and he gets a shot at that post--another powerful committee head, Ways and Means Chairman Bill Archer, R-Texas, already has made clear that he is gone at the end of 2000. Current Agriculture Chairman Bob Smith, R-Ore., has decided to leave at the end of this year, and Government Reform and Oversight Chairman Dan Burton, R-Ind., and Science Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., did not assume their posts until a year ago and can stay until the end of 2002--if their party is still in power. Sensenbrenner's seniority also could put him in a position for the Judiciary Committee chairmanship.
The Budget Committee operates under a different set of rules: Chairman John Kasich, R-Ohio, must leave his post at the end of this year, just in time to pursue his White House ambitions. That still leaves the majority of current chairmen with the question of whether to go at the end of 2000--or stay and run the risk of being relegated to the back benches. Following is a rundown of those facing that choice:
Banking Chairman Jim Leach, R-Ia. Despite some speculation he might retire this year after a closer than expected race in 1996, Leach announced last Friday he plans to run for re-election this year--and told the Cedar Rapids Gazette the term limit rule had no effect on his decision. And he will only be 58 at the end of 2000, a relative youngster as chairmen go. If Leach remains in the House, he could end up heading the International Relations Committee: He is third in seniority on the panel, and once served as a Foreign Service officer. At the same time, his status as one of his party's most liberal members and his failure to support Gingrich's re-election as speaker last year probably would not be assets in a bid for another chairmanship.
Commerce Chairman Thomas J. Bliley, R-Va. Bliley will be 68 at the end of 2000, and serves on no other committees. His staff said Bliley says he has not indicated one way or the other whether he will seek re- election in 2000.
Education and the Workforce Chairman Bill Goodling, R-Pa. Goodling, who will be 73 in 2000, is next in line to chair the International Relations Committee--just ahead of Leach. "He's not saying" what he will do after his current chairmanship ends, according to Goodling spokesman, adding, "It's not something he has to address for a while."
House Oversight Chairman William M. Thomas, R-Calif. Thomas will be just 59 at the end of 2000, and he is third in seniority among Ways and Means Committee Republicans behind Archer and Rep. Philip Crane of Illinois. Crane, who will be 70 in 2000, faces an aggressive challenger in next month's GOP primary; there has been recurrent speculation that, if he survives, the GOP leadership would pass over him and give the Ways and Means job to Thomas. For their part, Crane aides acknowledge they are "aware of the rumors," and Crane himself--in recent comments to a newspaper in his home district--has appeared to suggest that Thomas is angling for the job. But both Crane and his aides express confidence the chairmanship will be his A Thomas spokesman declined comment about his post-2000 plans.
International Relations Chairman Benjamin Gilman, R-N.Y. Gilman is likely to stay in Congress even after he loses his chairmanship, an aide said, adding, "He'd like to be in Congress when he's 100." Gilman, who will be 78 in 2000, is the second-ranking Republican on the Government Reform Committee. But he would have to wait until the end of 2002 to assume the chairmanship if Burton serves out his full tenure as chairman.
Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill. Hyde has not discussed the possibility of retirement after he is required to relinquish the powerful committee post, his spokesman said. He also serves on the International Relations panel--where he is fourth in seniority behind Gilman, Goodling and Leach. Nonetheless, his conservative ideology and his stature as one of the House GOP's most respected members could give him a shot at that chairmanship. Based on age, Hyde, who will be 76 at the end of 2000, might be a candidate for retirement. But that still makes him a lot younger than fellow Illinois Rep. Sidney Yates--a Democrat who will be 89 when he retires at the end of this year.
National Security Chairman Floyd Spence, R-S.C. Spence has given no indication of his plans after he loses the chairmanship, an aide said. Spence will be 72 in 2000; his only other committee assignment is Veterans' Affairs.
Resources Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska. Aides say Young has given "every indication" he will run for re-election in 2000. Since having had heart bypass surgery last summer, Young "is feeling better than ever," an aide said. And Young, who will be 67 at the end of 2000, has something else to look forward to: As holder of the No. 2 spot in seniority on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he would be in line to chair that panel.
Rules Chairman Gerald B.H. Solomon, R-N.Y. Solomon will be 70 at the end of 2000, and has no other current committee assignments. There was no immediate comment from Solomon, but he retains his seniority on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, where he was ranking member when he left to join the Rules Committee.
Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bud Shuster, R-Pa. Shuster will turn 68 in 2000; his passion always has been transportation, but he also is fourth in seniority on the Select Intelligence Committee. That panel, however, has a special limit on service that could foreclose the possibility of another chairmanship for Shuster. "He said he hasn't thought much about [the chairmanship deadline] and has never discussed it," a spokesman said.
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