A Washington Post report about U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy’s decision to retire quotes the Rhode Island congressman as saying he is not leaving for good what the Post calls “the family business.”

“I consider it taking a sabbatical,” Kennedy told Post reporter Philip Rucker. Rucker’s story, posted Thursday afternoon on www.WashingtonPost.com, said Kennedy “will transfer his roughly $500,000 in campaign funds to an interest-bearing account, which he says he might tap if he chooses to run for the Senate some day.”

Kennedy spokesman Adam Brand suggested in an e-mail exchange with the Providence Journal that, while Kennedy’s campaign fund currently holds about $500,000, the war chest will diminish even though the congressman is not running for reelection this year.

“We know there are going to be continuing expenses, costs incurred while preparing the committee for next year,” and federal campaign regulations to follow, Brand said. “Once all of that is taken care of, the congressman will decide what to do with the remaining campaign funds.” Brand did not give an estimate of what Kennedy can expect to retain in his fund when he leaves Congress.

As for Kennedy’s discussion of the possibility of an eventual Senate run, Brand said, “The congressman is committed to his current job and is looking forward to the next phase of his career and has no plans to run for elected office. Rhode Island has two fantastic senators and the congressman looks forward to supporting both of them in elections to come.”

With reports from John E. Mulligan