| Thursday, October 18, 2007 1:06 PM CDT |
Former House Speaker Hastert to resign Congress soon, aides say
By Charles Babington
Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert will resign before his term ends 15 months from now, ending a 21-year career in Congress, Republican aides said Thursday.
The Illinois Republican had announced in August he would not seek re-election in 2008, but indicated he planned to finish his current term, which ends in January 2009. Republican aides, speaking on background only because Hastert had not publicly announced his new plans, said he now has told colleagues he intends to leave office late this year or early next year.
Hastert's resignation would trigger a special election, probably in early 2008, in his Chicago-area district that stretches from his Plano home south of Chicago westward almost to the Mississippi River. Republicans would like to secure the seat ahead of the November 2008 election, which some fear will draw large numbers of Democratic voters unhappy with President Bush and the Iraq war.
Republicans interested in Hastert's job include millionaire businessman Jim Oberweis, who announced his intention in August. Oberweis ran unsuccessfully for governor and the U.S. Senate, a state senator and a mayor.
Speaking to two reporters Thursday in Washington, Hastert would not confirm or deny the resignation reports. Asked if he plans to resign before his term ends, he said, "not at this time."
Hastert, 65, was the longest-serving Republican speaker in history. He took the post in January 1999 after two better-known party members were forced aside by scandals and intraparty rivalries.
When Republicans lost control of the House in the 2006 elections, Hastert lost the speakership, and his retirement plans did not surprise colleagues.
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