Voinovich, IP Crusader, Confirms Retirement
A key Senate proponent for U.S. intellectual property protection confirmed Monday his plans to not seek re-election in 2010. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, issued a statement in advance of an already scheduled afternoon news conference saying that "after prayerful consideration and much thought, my wife Janet and I have decided that I will not seek a third term." "These next two years in office, for me, will be the most important years that I have served in my entire political career," Voinovich said. "I must devote my full time, energy and focus to the job I was elected to do, the job in front of me."
Early in the 110th Congress, Voinovich partnered with Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., to introduce an IP enforcement bill -- portions of which were combined with a multifaceted proposal by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy and ranking member Arlen Specter. In October, President Bush signed the Leahy measure, which toughened civil and criminal laws against counterfeiting and piracy, provided enhanced IP enforcement and prosecutorial resources, and improved IP coordination within the executive branch. Voinovich becomes the fourth Republican Senate incumbent to decide to step down in 2010. More details on Voinovich's decision and the field of likely candidates to replace him will be available in CongressDaily's PM edition.
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