Another Big GOP Retirement

Politico says:

Rep. Jim McCrery of Louisiana, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, is planning to retire, according to GOP insiders.

The 58-year-old McCrery was first elected to the House in 1986, and he would have taken over the powerful Ways and Means gavel in January if Democrats hadn't won control of the House.

Republican sources said McCrery would retire at the end of the 110th Congress, but he has yet to make an official announcement.

Politico also notes two other senior Republicans on Ways and Means, Jim Ramstad (Minn.) and Jerry Weller (Ill.), are retiring -- meaning there won't be much seasoned oomph on this critical committee for a while.