TOM DELAY, ARGUABLY THE MOST POWERFUL MEMBER OF CONGRESS OVER THE PAST DECADE, IS CALLING IT QUITS AND WILL RESIGN FROM THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE COMING WEEKS, THE TEXAS LAWMAKER TOLD HIS VOTERS TUESDAY, ACCORDING TO DPA. 'AFTER MANY WEEKS OF PERSONAL, PRAYERFUL THINKING AND ANALYSIS, I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS TIME TO CLOSE THIS PUBLIC SERVICE CHAPTER OF MY LIFE,' DELAY, A MEMBER OF PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH'S REPUBLICAN PARTY, TOLD HIS CONSTITUENTS IN AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WILL RIPPLE THROUGH THE COUNTRY. DELAY, NICKNAMED 'THE HAMMER,' WAS FEARED AND REVERED BY MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES FOR HIS ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE BY REWARDING SUPPORTERS AND TWISTING THE ARMS OF OPPONENTS. DELAY, 59, SERVED AS HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER UNTIL HE STEPPED DOWN FROM THAT POST EARLIER THIS YEAR AFTER BEING INDICTED ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE CHARGES. PRESIDENT BUSH RELIED ON DELAY TO ACCOMPLISH HIS AGENDA IN CONGRESS AND THE LAWMAKER DELIVERED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, HELPING PASS TAX CUTS, AN EXPANSION OF THE FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMME FOR THE ELDERLY AND KEEPING REPUBLICANS IN LINE ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES. DELAY INFORMED BUSH OF HIS DECISION MONDAY, AND THE PRESIDENT SAID TUESDAY THAT STEPPING DOWN 'HAD TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION' FOR THE LAWMAKER. BUT BUSH ALSO SAID THAT HE EXPECTS THAT HIS PARTY 'WILL CONTINUE TO SUCCEED.' --SP 22 51 LOCAL TIME 19 51 GMT
