U.S. Rep. Dan Burton, an Indiana Republican, will not seek re-election in 2012, The Associated Press reports.
Mr. Burton has served in Congress since 1983, but reportedly told members of the Indiana House Tuesday that he would not seek re-election for his 16th term.
The 73-year-old congressman did not give a reason for making his decision to retire Tuesday, however he does plan to serve out the rest of his term which ends in 2013. The Indiana Republican won re-election in 2010 with 30 percent of the vote.
Last week Mr. Burton endorsed Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich for president, claiming he was the only candidate who could compete in a debate with President Barack Obama in the fall.
“If you look at these other candidates, they may have good looks, they may have good credentials but we need right now somebody who will take it right to Obama on all of the issues and get elected president to get this country back on track,” said Mr. Burton in a statement obtained by NewsMax last week. “We need a fighter, someone who will go toe-to- toe with Obama and take him down, and Newt Gingrich is the best debater I know and in a face-to- face with [Gingrich], Obama will have no chance.”
The Indiana Republican has long been opposed to the president’s healthcare, and also voiced his opposition to the president’s disapproval of the Keystone XL Pipeline project in early January.
Mr. Burton was first elected to Congress in 1983, to represent Indiana’s 6th congressional district. He currently represents Indiana’s 5th congressional district.
