The “Retirement” Announcements Begin, Just as the 112th Congress Begins Work

     The tragic shooting in Tucson, which seriously injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, moved the initial working days of the 112th Congress back by a week. But today, after the Martin Luther King Holiday, the Congress got down to the “People’s Business”, and began the initial work to repeal and replace the President’s job-killing health care legislation.

     And as the work begins on Capitol Hill, the first two “casualties” after the November 2010 shellacking have appeared.

      Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), the former head of the Budget committee, has announced that he will not seek another term. He says that he believes that he can be more effective in positive changes outside the confines of the Senate. Interpretation: He will be a K Street lobbyist!

      Tomorrow, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), already rumored to be facing a difficult challenger in 2012, will announce that he will not seek another term.

     Last week, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) announced that she would not seek another term.

     There are a total of 32 seats up for election in the Senate in 2012, with 23 being held by Democrats and Lieberman. Remember that the balance in the Senate right now is 51 Dems, 47 Republicans, and 2 Independents. The Republicans will need to keep their 9 seats, including keeping the Texas seat, and gain 4 more to take the control of the Senate.

       It’s going to be a long and rocky road to 2012 !!