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Barney Frank, a leading voice in Congress on budget issues, said he wants to join the upcoming battles over the national debt and deficit. 
Just one day after his retirement from the U.S. House, former Congressman Barney Frank is already planning his return to Capitol Hill – this time as Senator Barney Frank.
Frank told MSNBC that he has asked Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to let him serve as Sen. John Kerry’s short-term seat-filler after his expected confirmation as Secretary of State.
The temporary senator would only fill Kerry’s seat until a special election for his long-term successor.
Frank, who served as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, was a leading voice in Congress on budget issues. The 16-term Democrat said he wants to return to Capitol Hill to join the looming battles over the national debt and deficit.
The so-called fiscal cliff package passed by Congress this week delayed for two months the beginning of severe across-the-board spending cuts – setting the stage for yet another round of partisan fighting over the budget.
“Two weeks ago, in fact, I said I wasn’t interested,” Frank replied. “That [fiscal cliff] deal now means that February, March and April are going to be among the most important months in American financial [history].”
“I’ve told the governor that I would now like frankly to do that because I would like to be a part of that [deal],” he said.
But Frank said he wouldn’t want to serve in the U.S. Senate on a more permanent basis.
“It’s only a three-month period; I wouldn’t want to do anything more,” he said, adding, “Coach, put me in!”
But it’s unclear if Patrick will be swayed by Frank’s plea.
In a follow-up interview, Frank told The Boston Globe that the governor’s response was “noncommittal.”
Looking farther ahead, Frank shared some longer-term plans for his political retirement on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“I’m going to write a couple of books, I hope, if my powers of concentration hold out, give lectures, do some teaching and maybe some TV commentary,” he said. “I think basically run my mouth for money.”
“And one other very important thing,” he added. “I am not marching in any more parades ever.”
klee@nydailynews.com
