Republican Senator Domenici to Retire

Slowly it looks like the Republicans are loosing more and more control. Rumors are that New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici, a Republican, is planning to announce his retirement on Thursday. Domenici, who is 75, "won't be seeking re-election," said a senate aide who doesn't want to be identified. According to Reuters, the Senator will go into the details of his retirement in Albuquerque when it is officially announced. He will be the fourth Republican senator that will be retiring next year. John Warner of Virginia, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Wayne Allard of Colorado are the other Senators that will not be returning.

The Republicans lost control of the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in last year's elections, but this is a major blow to the party. Domenici served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee during his career and has been known to take a special interest on energy legislation.