Majority Whip Gray Reportedly Quitting House
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WASHINGTON — House Majority Whip William H. Gray III (D-Pa.), the highest-ranking black in Congress and third in line for the Speaker’s chair, reportedly plans to resign from the House this week, congressional sources said Tuesday.
Gray intends to become president of the United Negro College Fund, the sources said, a move that would abruptly end a meteoric career in the House that began with his election in 1978 from a North Philadelphia district.
Gray’s office has denied such reports in the past, but a spokesman refused late Tuesday to confirm or deny the rumors that swept the House floor.
“At this point, he has nothing to announce,” Jon Plebani, Gray’s chief spokesman, said. “He hasn’t accepted the job.” Gray was not available for comment.
Other sources said an announcement was planned for Thursday.
Gray, 49, was reported interested in making more money than his $125,000 salary as a member of Congress because he has a son with a learning disability who will require costly special education.
Gray, a Baptist preacher who is senior minister of the Bright Hope Baptist Church, served as chairman of the House Budget Committee and the Democratic Caucus before defeating two rivals to become whip in 1989.
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