Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander announced this morning he will step down from his position in Republican leadership. He’s spent four years as the Senate Conference chairman, shaping the GOP message on issues.

Alexander says by stepping down as the Senate’s third ranking Republican, he intends to step up his work on making sure health care spending doesn’t squeeze out other priorities, like research and road building.

“I expect to be more – not less – aggressive on the issues. And I look forward to that. The Senate is created to be the place where the biggest issues creating the biggest disagreements are argued out.”

Alexander calls himself a “very Republican, Republican,” and a politician who sees the need for bi-partisanship.

“I know that the Senate usually requires 60 votes for a solution on serious issues and we simply can’t get that with only Republican votes or only Democratic votes.”

Before being elected in 2002, Alexander told voters he would serve “with conservative principles and an independent attitude.” That independence has set him apart from other GOP leaders. As recently as last summer, Alexander was the only member of party leadership to endorse a plan that reduced the deficit with a combination of tax increases and spending cuts.

Alexander is receiving high praise from both sides of the aisle. Majority Leader Harry Reid – a Democrat – says Alexander does a lot of work behind the scenes. He helped resolve disputes over Senate filibuster rules out of the limelight.

“He accomplishes a great deal and gets credit for not a lot, and that’s unfortunate, but that’s who he is. That’s who he’s always been.”

Considered the most centrist Republican in leadership, Alexander’s departure is expected to make way for a more conservative member to move up next year. But Tennessee Senator Bob Corker – a relative moderate himself – says it’s a “great day for the Senate.”

“Based on the conversations that we’ve had and the way that I know you, the United States Senate is going to become very quickly a more interesting place to serve.”

The 71-year-old Alexander still intends to run for another term in 2014. He plans to relinquish his leadership post in January.

Web Extra

Audio of Alexander describing how he’s traded some of his independence to be in party leadership.

Reaction from Senator Bob Corker, who says leadership can fall into “group think.” (courtesy of reporter Matt Laslo in Washington)