House majority leader considers retirement

WASHINGTON -- House Majority Leader Dick Armey, second-ranking leader among Republicans and an advocate for tax cuts and smaller government, has told associates he may retire at the end of his term, sources close to the Texas lawmaker said Monday night.

A decision to step down could open up a lively race among fellow Republicans eager to claim his powerful post.

One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Armey had notified House Speaker Dennis Hastert and other Republicans that he may not seek re-election to a 10th term in 2002.

Armey, 61, faces a filing deadline of Jan. 2 in Texas, but he could announce his plans sooner, possibly within days.

Time might be right

One source familiar with Armey's thinking said the Texan was not considering retirement for reasons of health or political necessity, but simply decided the time might be right for a change, given the legislative record of the last seven years and the presence of a Republican in the White House.

Armey's spokesman declined comment on the congressman's possible plans, first reported Monday night on The Wall Street Journal's Web site.

Contract With America

Armey played a key role in development of the Contract With America, the conservative campaign manifesto that Republicans rode to power in 1994 midterm elections. He was elected majority leader in the aftermath of the GOP victory, and helped push most elements of the legislative program through the House in the first 100 days of the session.

He has since won three more terms in his leadership post. He was challenged for his leadership job in 1998, because of questions of his involvement in a GOP bid the previous year to topple former Speaker Newt Gingrich.

As majority leader, Armey has pushed consistently for tax cuts, less federal spending, elimination of some federal agencies and reduced federal regulation of business.

A former economics professor, he expressed unhappiness at Gingrich's decision to bring a minimum-wage increase to the House floor in 1996.

At the same time, his conservative views won the trust of members of the rank-and-file who relied on him to represent their interests.

Most recently, Hastert named Armey as one of two House GOP negotiators on economic stimulus legislation.

Armey used lively language at times to make his point.

"Ain't no right way to do the wrong thing," he once told reporters asking about the minimum wage bill.

And his plainspoken style could cause controversy.

"Your president is just not that important to us," he told Democrats during a 1994 crime bill, referring to Bill Clinton.