Following up on a story Metroblogging DC posted last week, we learn this morning that Bob Ney, a former chairman of the House Administration Committee who helped bring potato jingoism to Capitol Hill has decided to not seek re-election (AP/The Post) The Ohio Republican, with ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, is currently under investigation for influence peddling. Ney’s announcement reportedly contains the standard, “I don’t want to put my family through this anymore” reasoning. He first announced his intentions in an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Recently, Ney’s legacy of cafeteria oversight took a hit when “freedom fries” became “french fries” in the Capitol cafeterias again. Ney had been a representative since 1995.