Heller submits House resignation, moves closer to Senate

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Dean Heller on Friday released a copy of his formal resignation from the House of Representatives, a final step to take office Monday in the U.S. Senate.

Heller's letter to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, was read into the Congressional Record shortly before lawmakers adjourned in Thursday's session, a spokesman said.

In it, Heller said his departure would be effective at 1:30 p.m. EDT Monday, a half-hour before he is scheduled to be sworn into office as senator to replace Sen. John Ensign, who resigned.

Gov. Brian Sandoval on Friday released the proclamation he prepared that formally carries out Heller's appointment. In the proclamation, dated Tuesday and mailed Thursday, Sandoval tells the president of the Senate, Vice President Joe Biden, of Heller's appointment.

Heller's resignation letter brings to a close his career as a House member after four years and four months.

"It has been a privilege to join my House colleagues in the fight to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington and work toward a more prosperous future for our great nation," he told Boehner.

Heller, a Carson City resident, is a former Republican state legislator and a three-time secretary of state.

Because of Heller's departure from Congress, Sandoval has scheduled a Sept. 13 election to fill his seat. Secretary of State Ross Miller has ruled any candidate who files May 23-25 can appear on the ballot to represent the 2nd Congressional District.

The state Republican Party on Thursday filed a lawsuit challenging Miller's decision. The party contends that political party central committees each must name one candidate to run and that Miller did not properly follow state law when he scheduled the open ballot election.

Review-Journal Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel contributed to this report. Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephens
media.com or 202-783-1760.