Tom Reynolds Calls It Quits

Another day, another Republican retirement. This retirement makes 22 and counting for this cycle.

New York Representative Tom Reynolds announced yesterday that he will not seek re-election, bringing a scandalized 10 year career in the House to an end.

Reynolds, who not so long ago chaired the paper tiger known as the National Republican Congressional Committee (the Republican equivalent to our DCCC), went from majority powerhouse to minority afterthought in the last two years. First there was Reynolds' involvement in the Mark Foley scandal followed by the Congressional Republicans losing control of the House in the 2006 midterm elections. To add further fuel to the scandal fire, it was on Reynolds' watch that NRCC treasurer Chris Ward fraudulently transfered several hundred thousand dollars out of NRCC accounts.

Reynolds stepped down as NRCC Chairman after the midterm defeats, having overseen the loss of control of the House and leaving behind $19 million in debt.