Rep. Bart Stupak to retire, putting seat in play

[Hawkgirl]

and 1 "switch hitter" who could go either way.

Who is the switchhitter?

As for Stupak, this is not surprising..he probably did some internal polling and realized he's the most hated man in America.

[Red October]

The criticism has worn him out.    Aww... poor baby.  Cry to me when they're making up stories about your children AND your grandchildren.   

[DefiantSix]

Who is the switchhitter?

That would be Anthony Kennedy.

[littlelamb]

Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you loser

[Lacarnut]

He is a coward who got an earfull from his constituents. His poll numbers have dropped like a rock so he decided to chicken out rather than have ego bruised with a crushing defeat in Nov.   

[NHSparky]

Yes I think you get better benefits if you retire.

Nope--no difference.  Total time in service is the key.  Five years to become fully vested, which basically means 3 terms as Congressman, 1 term as a Senator.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm

[docstew]

Don't they get to keep some of the money they raised for re-election if they "retire"?

[NHSparky]

Don't they get to keep some of the money they raised for re-election if they "retire"?

I'm pretty sure they don't.  Any funds raised for re-election campaigns not applied to future campaigns either have to be given to other candidates/non-profit PAC's or donated to charity.