He'll make way for Eric Cantor of Virginia. Adam Putnam has already stepped down, and while Boehner is expected to stay on, there are rumblings in the grassroots about ousting him. He makes his case, here.
Blunt's letter on his decision:
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Dear Republican Colleague,
In January 2007, I wrote myself a letter and mailed it to my office. The letter, unopened, sat on my desk until Wednesday. Almost two years ago, I wrote that our ideas didn't lose the mid-term election, we did. I wrote that it was my intention to spend the next two years holding the Democrats accountable and defining the differences between our parties. I also wrote that, were we not successful in recapturing the majority in 2008, it was my intention to serve only two years as Minority Whip.
With another election behind us, I still believe that conservative ideas define where the country wants to be and needs to be. And I believe that together we held the Democrats accountable and that we began to define some of the differences between our parties.
Against the pundits' best predictions, we stood against a flawed expansion of government run health care in the SCHIP bill. When many were saying it was political suicide, we gave the surge a chance to work and today we are rapidly handing over control of Iraq to a stable government capable of securing the peace. We stopped billions of dollars in frivolous spending. We won an unprecedented number of motions to recommit, defining the differences between our parties and on a few occasions forcing the Democrats to pull their own bills from the floor. And when an energy crisis threatened our families and our whole economy, we advanced common sense solutions that resonated with the American people.
Yet, in part due to circumstances beyond our control, we were not successful in 2008. And I believe my instincts two years ago were correct, I can best contribute to our efforts to regain the majority and advance the interests of the American people in a different role in the 111th Congress. Therefore, I will not seek re-election as your Whip.
It has been one of my greatest honors to serve in the House Leadership. I have been truly humbled by the trust you have placed in me and by the opportunity to serve our nation.
I am optimistic about our future. I firmly believe that if we successfully define the Democrat agenda for what it is and present a compelling alternative we will be the majority in two short years. I look forward to working beside you to build that majority.
Thank you for your friendship.
Roy Blunt
