Kucinich called for a “new politics” of public financing for campaigns and greater government attention to jobs, healthcare, retirement and the environment.
KUCINICH: “Our government must raise the status of working people and protect their rights. Our government must stress wealth creation over taxation, investment over debt, health over illness, peace over war, liberty over surveillance.”
The former mayor of Cleveland won election to the House in 1996. He opposed military action in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, and he sought the Democratic nomination for president twice.
Kucinich originally opposed President Obama’s healthcare reform proposal, calling it a bailout, and favoring a government-run single-payer plan. In the end, he supported the Affordable Care Act.
He lost a primary election to Rep. Marcy Kaptur last March after their two districts were combined. Ohio Representatives Steve LaTourette, Betty Sutton, Steve Austria and Jean Schmidt are also leaving Congress.
