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Abercrombie’s departure

by The Hill Editors - 02/24/10 12:45 AM ET

Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), who is running for governor, is serving his last week in the House.

Abercrombie is a rare breed in the lower chamber. He is respected and admired by both Democrats and Republicans. And he was never seduced by the Senate; he was always a House guy, through and through.

{mosads}But unlike many other House members, Abercrombie did not take cheap partisan shots.

In an interview with The Hill on Tuesday, the Hawaiian choked up when discussing his looming departure. “I have such deep regard and affection for the House,” he said, adding that he is getting “waves of emotion” this week.

He was first elected in 1986 in a special election, but the triumph was bittersweet. On that same day, he lost the Democratic primary, so he only served a few months before returning to Hawaii.

Abercrombie noted with pride that he was the last person whom Speaker Tip O’Neill (D-Mass.) swore in to office.

“Tip told me, ‘Whether you’re here three months or 30 years, everyone should remember the privilege of serving in the House.’ ”

In 1990, Abercrombie returned to the House, and this time he was there to stay. The Buffalo, N.Y., native was subsequently appointed to the Armed Services Committee, and after Democrats took control of the House, he chaired the Air and Land Forces subcommittee.

The 71-year-old legislator, an avid weightlifter, is not shy about expressing his views. And he has shown no qualms about bucking his party, sometimes loudly.

He lambasted his leaders for moving an ethics bill he strongly opposed and ripped Democrats on their energy policy in 2008.

Abercrombie is going out on a high note. The House on Tuesday was expected to pass the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, which would extend the federal policy of recognition to Native Hawaiians and provide parity for Hawaii with policies toward Native Alaskans and American Indians. Abercrombie and the Hawaii delegation have been working on the bill for more than a decade.

Needing to campaign back home, Abercrombie will resign from the lower chamber on Feb. 28.

While he was certainly a productive member, Abercrombie’s time in the House will not be remembered for his legislative track record.

Members, aides, lobbyists and reporters will recall his storytelling skills, his rambunctious style and his respect for his colleagues.

He will miss the House. And the House will miss him.