Rudman to Leave Senate; Government Paralysis Frustrates Republican
Sen. Warren B. Rudman (R-N.H.), one of the most outspoken, influential and effective senators of the past decade, said yesterday he will not seek a third term this fall because of frustration over paralysis in government and his own powerlessness to do anything about it.</br></br>"Frankly, if I thought I could make a difference, I would have stayed, but I don't," said the irascible but well-liked New Englander, who, despite his frustrations, was credited by colleagues with having had more of an impact than many senators who have served far longer on Capitol Hill.</br></br>Rudman, a 61-year-old lawyer, cited the stalemate over curbing budget deficits as his chief source of frustration and warned that the huge federal debt could undermine the nation's security in a few years.</br></br>"I will miss the people, not the frustration," Rudman added, reflecting a broad and deepening concern on the part of the most conscientious lawmakers on Capitol Hill about governmental gridlock, their inability to break it and the rage they are incurring from constituents as a result.</br></br>Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), who is seeking reelection this year, said many senators share Rudman's frustrations and "a lot" are considering quitting for the same reasons. "We have been so polarized by single-issue groups, special-interest groups, lobbyists and the rest that it's not easy to get together and solve anything anymore . . . and it's not easy to contemplate continuing in this vein."