West Michigan Congressman Fred Upton will have served for 30 years in the House at this end of this term, and he's hoping voters will give him at least two more. The St. Joseph Republican is Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He was re-elected in November to his 15th term in the U.S. House.
Michigan lost many decades of experience at the end of the last Congressional term with the retirements two long-serving Democrats, Representative John Dingell and Senator Carl Levin. Two veteran Republican Congressmen, Mike Rogers and Dave Camp also stepped down.
Republican Congresswoman Candice Miller announced on Thursday that she will not run for another term. But Upton spokesman Tom Wilbur says
"Fred is full steam ahead and 100% running for re-election in 2016."
Under current Republican House rules, Upton would not be able to serve as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee beyond the end of this term. During an interview in November, Upton addressed that issue and said many past chairman were still serving in the House. At that time, the Republican Congressman said he would probably decide around the end of 2015 whether he would run for another term. It seems as though the decision has been made sooner.
