By BILLY HOUSE/Media General News Service
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TAMPA – Florida U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam’s announcement early Wednesday that he will voluntarily step down from his House GOP leadership role represents a hiccup to what has, until now, been his swift political ascendancy in Washington.
Putnam, 34, does not describe it that way himself.
“I don’t view it as a hiccup at all. I think people obsessed with Potomac fever may not understand how someone can voluntarily step off the (congressional) leadership ladder,” said Putnam, in an interview later Wednesday. “But I am very content with my decision and look forward to supporting the work that is ahead of us.”
Only Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and whip Roy Blunt of Missouri currently outrank Putnam in the GOP House leadership hierarchy, posts that are little-known outside of Washington, but influential within the Capitol in setting party strategy and agendas.
For Putnam, the No. 3 role of GOP conference chairman -- the main party spokesman and attack dog -- has also given him a platform from which he could press issues and measures important to his state and the Tampa Bay area.
Putnam initially moved into the House leadership in early 2006 in a party reorganization after the resignation of then-Majority Leader Tom DeLay. He was elevated by his colleagues to the No. 3 GOP post after Republicans lost the House majority in November 2006.
But Putnam’s name will not be among the choices when rank-and-file House Republicans gather behind closed doors in Washington on Nov. 17 to reorganize and pick their party leaders for the new two-year congressional session starting in January.
Putnam said he believes his work in the role as the GOP conference chairman has limited his flexibility to reach across the aisle in a nonpartisan manner.
Putnam also acknowledges he feels a bit beaten up.
“Being the party’s chief spokesman gives you great opportunities for exposure but the facts are that sometimes you are a little bit limited on how you approach that. And certainly, you do begin to accumulate nicks, and they add up,” said Putnam, first elected to the House in 2000.
In fact, Putnam’s decision also comes amid growing dissatisfaction among rank-and-file House Republicans over their party’s current leadership, direction and performance.
Going into Tuesday’s elections, the GOP was already down 36 seats to Democrats, who held a 235-199-seat advantage. On Tuesday, Republicans chalked up a net loss of at least 18 more amid Barack Obama’s big win at the top of the Democratic ticket, with several other races still in the recount stage.
The party’s troubles even before Tuesday had already led to open talk of rebellion, including talk that Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling was gunning for Putnam’s job.
Friends say Putnam has been considering relinquishing his job as conference leader for some time. Putnam, the scion of a prominent family in Polk County agriculture, has four young children between the ages of 2 and 7. Like any working parent, friends say, he has struggled to balance his time between home and Washington. He also is said to be entertaining a run for statewide office some day.
But it was not until Tuesday that Putnam officially informed his Republican House colleagues that he will not run for his leadership post for the next session.
In a “Dear Republican Colleague” letter, Putnam, wrote that he has enjoyed the job, but “with the issues before us today come bipartisan opportunities and partisan differences. My current role obligates me to the latter and too often excludes me from the former.”
Susan McManus, a University of South Florida political scientist who has known Putnam for some time, said it is easy for her to understand why he had grown frustrated.
“Rep. Putnam’s always been known as person who loves public policy and is very knowledgeable and well-informed,” she said. “But being a (party) leader in Washington makes it difficult to do anything that is not partisan.”
Reporter Billy House can be reached at 202-662-7673 or at bhouse@mediageneral.com
Putnam, 34, does not describe it that way himself.
“I don’t view it as a hiccup at all. I think people obsessed with Potomac fever may not understand how someone can voluntarily step off the (congressional) leadership ladder,” said Putnam, in an interview later Wednesday. “But I am very content with my decision and look forward to supporting the work that is ahead of us.”
Only Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and whip Roy Blunt of Missouri currently outrank Putnam in the GOP House leadership hierarchy, posts that are little-known outside of Washington, but influential within the Capitol in setting party strategy and agendas.
For Putnam, the No. 3 role of GOP conference chairman -- the main party spokesman and attack dog -- has also given him a platform from which he could press issues and measures important to his state and the Tampa Bay area.
Putnam initially moved into the House leadership in early 2006 in a party reorganization after the resignation of then-Majority Leader Tom DeLay. He was elevated by his colleagues to the No. 3 GOP post after Republicans lost the House majority in November 2006.
But Putnam’s name will not be among the choices when rank-and-file House Republicans gather behind closed doors in Washington on Nov. 17 to reorganize and pick their party leaders for the new two-year congressional session starting in January.
Putnam said he believes his work in the role as the GOP conference chairman has limited his flexibility to reach across the aisle in a nonpartisan manner.
Putnam also acknowledges he feels a bit beaten up.
“Being the party’s chief spokesman gives you great opportunities for exposure but the facts are that sometimes you are a little bit limited on how you approach that. And certainly, you do begin to accumulate nicks, and they add up,” said Putnam, first elected to the House in 2000.
In fact, Putnam’s decision also comes amid growing dissatisfaction among rank-and-file House Republicans over their party’s current leadership, direction and performance.
Going into Tuesday’s elections, the GOP was already down 36 seats to Democrats, who held a 235-199-seat advantage. On Tuesday, Republicans chalked up a net loss of at least 18 more amid Barack Obama’s big win at the top of the Democratic ticket, with several other races still in the recount stage.
The party’s troubles even before Tuesday had already led to open talk of rebellion, including talk that Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling was gunning for Putnam’s job.
Friends say Putnam has been considering relinquishing his job as conference leader for some time. Putnam, the scion of a prominent family in Polk County agriculture, has four young children between the ages of 2 and 7. Like any working parent, friends say, he has struggled to balance his time between home and Washington. He also is said to be entertaining a run for statewide office some day.
But it was not until Tuesday that Putnam officially informed his Republican House colleagues that he will not run for his leadership post for the next session.
In a “Dear Republican Colleague” letter, Putnam, wrote that he has enjoyed the job, but “with the issues before us today come bipartisan opportunities and partisan differences. My current role obligates me to the latter and too often excludes me from the former.”
Susan McManus, a University of South Florida political scientist who has known Putnam for some time, said it is easy for her to understand why he had grown frustrated.
“Rep. Putnam’s always been known as person who loves public policy and is very knowledgeable and well-informed,” she said. “But being a (party) leader in Washington makes it difficult to do anything that is not partisan.”
Reporter Billy House can be reached at 202-662-7673 or at bhouse@mediageneral.com