Northern Virginia Democratic Congressman Jim Moran says he's retiring because he thinks he can direct more change working from outside of this Congress.
Congressman Moran first arrived on Capitol Hill in 1991. The proud progressive gained notoriety for delivering blistering floor speeches whenever his priorities were challenged, sometimes even challenging his fellow Democrats.
Moran says he's still got that fight in him, but as an appropriator in a time of austerity he says there isn't room in the current budgeting process for him to advance his spending priorities, which include environmental and animal rights issues.
"There's no room for new initiatives, let alone the kind of bold things I think we need to be doing for this country, in terms of investing in it's physical and its human infrastructure. Times have changed."
Moran says he's planning to finish out his term before continuing his advocacy outside of the Capitol, most likely at a lobbying firm.