In 2002, Stairs was a candidate to replace
John E. Barley as Majority Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, eventually losing to
Dave Argall. In an open letter to the House Caucus announcing his candidacy, Stairs criticized Barley's dual positions as both chair of the House Republican Campaign Committee and chair of the Appropriations Committee. He expressed his desire to work with
John Perzel, saying that "John Perzel is a city fellow and fights like an alley cat. I will join him as a country boy and fight like a barn cat." He retired prior to the
2008 election, and was succeeded by Republican
Mike Reese. Stairs and his wife live in
Acme, Pennsylvania and have two children. ==References==