Gramm Resigns His Seat As Leading Boll Weevil

BRYAN, TEXAS--Rep. Phil Gramm, a "Boll Weevil" Democrat whose party ousted him from the House Budget Committee, resigned his seat yesterday and said he would try to win it back in a special election as a Republican.

"I recognize that my political future might, because of this action, go down into oblivion," said Gramm, 40, who was elected to his third term in November. "I do not know whether this is a wise decision but I do believe that it is an honest one."

Republican Gov. Bill Clements, who accepted Gramm's resignation, set the special election for Feb. 12.

Gramm was kicked off the budget committee by the Democratic leadership in Congress for championing President Reagan's economic programs.

"I cannot in good conscience continue to work within a national party tht seeks to limit my effectiveness on behalf of those I represent in its effort to perpetuate the spending spree which has crippled our nation, threatened our position of world leadership and robbed workers," said Gramm, a former economics professor.

House Republican leaders said they would recommend that Gramm continue on the Budget Committee if he wins the special election.

Members of Congress are free to change parties at any time, merely by declaring their new allegiance.

The last time a congressman resigned and swwitched parties was in 1965 when Rep Albert W. Watson of South Carolina did it after Democrats stripped him of seniority for endorsing Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater over President Lyndon B. Johnson. Watson won the seat back in a special election by a more than 2-1 margin.