�鶹Ů��

Democratic Rep. Lois Capps, in her 10th term representing a congressional district along California's Central Coast, said Wednesday that she will not run for re-election. ... A former nurse, the 77-year-old Capps has served on the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee. Over the years, she has often focused on health issues with legislation that included increasing the availability of emergency defibrillators, expanding opportunities for people to get into nursing and improving Medicare coverage for patients suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. (4/8)

The Santa Barbara Democrat was elected to Congress in a 1998 special election to replace her husband, Walter, after his death. She said in a video that “it is time for me to return home, back to the community and family that I love so much.” ... Capps’ most notable work has been in healthcare and nursing. For example, she wrote a provision in 2000 giving grants for children’s dental care and a 2002 law providing scholarships and grants designed to train more nurses. (Bierman, 4/8)

One Democrat quickly jumped into the race Wednesday afternoon. Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider praised Capps and said she plans “to pursue an agenda that focuses on helping Californians reach their full potential by creating more good paying jobs, growing the middle class, advancing more progressive environmental protection policies, investing in our infrastructure and education, defending Medicare and Social Security, and ensuring equal pay for equal work for all Americans.” (Schneider, 4/8)