When President Obama repealed the global gag rule, during his first days in office, Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) was behind the legislative effort to reinstate the ban on US foreign aid funding for family planning clinics abroad who provide abortions with their own funds.

His amendment was defeated by 60 votes, but it was an indication of how much grandstanding socially conservative elected officials still feel is required of them on reproductive health issues.

Now, the Miami Herald reports that Martinez will step down and not return to the Senate after the August recess.  Gov. Charlie Crist will select Martinez’s replacement, which could even be, the Herald notes, the governor himself.

Martinez has been the consistent recipient of "0" scores on NARAL Pro-Choice America’s and Planned Parenthood’s report cards.