Livingston

Livingston to resign at end of February

WASHINGTON (AP) Rep. Bob Livingston, who last month made the surprise decision to leave Congress just weeks before he was to become speaker of the House, said Wednesday he will formally resign on Feb. 28.

Livingston, R-La., said he met with Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster over the weekend, and they agreed on the date so that special elections to fill the seat could take place in the spring.

"After having consulted with legal counsel and the governor of Louisiana, it has become apparent that in order for a special midterm election to be held this spring, I have no choice but to vacate my office by no later than Feb. 28, 1999," he said in a statement.

He formally announced his resignation date in a letter to Louisiana Secretary of State Fox McKeithen.

Livingston, who has represented his state's 1st District centering in Metairie since 1977, stunned his colleagues when he announced during the debate on impeaching President Clinton on Dec. 19 that he would not seek the House speakership and would step down from his seat.

Two days earlier, Livingston, heading off press exposes, acknowledged that he had had extramarital affairs that had nearly destroyed his 33-year marriage.

After the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994, new Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., named Livingston as Appropriations Committee chairman, a pivotal position in deciding how federal funds are distributed every year.

Livingston led GOP efforts to trim government spending, but also resisted efforts by his fellow conservatives to attach controversial legislation to spending bills.

When Gingrich announced that he was leaving Congress after Republicans lost seats to the Democrats in last November's election, Livingston was the overwhelming choice of his party to become the next speaker.

A special election to fill Gingrich's seat is scheduled for Feb. 23. Currently there are 222 Republicans in the House, with 211 Democrats and one Democratic-suppporting independent.

Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., was elected House speaker on Jan. 6.