Article snippet: Sen. MORE (R-Miss.) on Monday said he plans to resign from the Senate next month due to health issues. His exit puts a key committee gavel up for grabs and will likely trigger a fierce intraparty fight back in his home state to succeed him. Cochran, 80, in a statement said his health was an “ongoing challenge” and he wanted to step down with enough time to ensure a “smooth transition” to his successor. “I intend to fulfill my responsibilities and commitments to the people of Mississippi and the Senate through the completion of the 2018 appropriations cycle, after which I will formally retire from the U.S. Senate,” Cochran said in a statement. He will resign his seat on April 1, according to his office. Cochran’s future had been the subject of speculation for months. He missed votes late last year after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection; his office said doctors advised him to stay in Mississippi and recover. He subsequently was absent in December after having an outpatient procedure related to a nonmelanoma lesion on his nose. Cochran was first elected to the Senate in 1978 after serving three terms in the House. At the time, he was the first Republican elected statewide in Mississippi in more than 100 years. “Thad knows there’s a big difference between making a fuss and making a difference. And the people of Mississippi — and our whole nation — have benefited from his steady determination to do the latter,” Senate Majority Leader MORE (R-Ky.) said in... Link to the full article to read more