With at least 30 U.S. representatives already declaring that they will not return after the current Congress ends almost a year from now, Politico turned to 11-term 4th District Congressman Tom Cole for perspective.
“You learn over time how to do this stuff,” Cole said, referring to the legislative process.
More than half the House GOP members had never been in the majority before this year, and while the House passed a lot of bills, very few of them actually made it into law.
Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers of Alabama and ranking member Adam Smith of Washington put on a “masterclass” to get the defense authorization bill through earlier this month and said Congress needs more seasoned lawmakers, not fewer.
