Pickering, Bono staying put

In two widely separated U.S. House districts, speculation was rampant in the last two weeks that the incumbent members of Congress were about to quit to take lucrative public sector jobs. So believable were the stories that would-be replacements had commenced calling for support in probable special elections. But in both cases, the speculation and maneuvering were for nothing. Republican Representatives Chip Pickering (Miss.) and Mary Bono (Calif.) are apparently staying put.

Less than three weeks ago, Pickering (lifetime American Conservative Union rating: 96%) floored fellow Republicans in the Magnolia State by publicly stating he was considering resigning from the 3rd District seat he had been reelected to only seven months before. The reason, four-termer Pickering explained, was that he was being considered for a $1-million-a-year-plus-generous expenses lobbying job with the telecommunications industry. With five young sons and a big mortgage, the congressman was clearly attracted by the prospect of a job that paid nearly ten times the annual congressional salary.

"Why didn't he figure all that all out last year, before we raised $2.5 million for him to be re-elected?" fumed one prominent Jackson (Miss.) Republican, adding that they had helped Pickering hold the reapportioned district over Democratic Rep. Ronnie Shows (1998-2002). (Early this month Shows told reporters that he would definitely run in a special election if Pickering resigned.) Echoed the Natchez (Miss.) Democrat: "When Pickering was elected to office, he signed a contract with the people of Mississippi to serve them for two more years. We hope to see the remaining one and a half."

After 10 days of speculation over what Pickering might do, the congressman announced that, after prayer and conferences with his family, he was taking himself out of consideration for the lobbying job and would stay in office.

In California, rumors had Bono (lifetime ACU rating: 77%) leaving Congress to take another vacant, well-paying job: head of the Recording Industry Association of America that she seemed a natural for-if for no other reason than that she is the widow of the late Rep. (1994-98) and singer-composer Sonny Bono (R.-Calif.).

Beginning with a mention of her in Billboard Magazine as a possibility to fill the job, speculation mounted in the press that Mary (who remarried last year) would leave Congress to take what is considered the most glamorous entertainment trade association position after Jack Valenti's job as Motion Picture Association chief.

But none of those doing the speculating had bothered to contact the Palm Springs area congresswoman herself. As Bono press secretary Frank Cullen told me last week: "She has not had any discussion about the job, has never had the opportunity to comment about the speculation herself, has not been interviewed, and has not pursued it in any way." And, Cullen added, "she is fully committed to running for re-election next year."

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Jul 21, 2003
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