Herger, Camp jockey for top GOP post on Ways and Means

House Republicans won’t meet to select a replacement for the top GOP slot on the Ways and Means Committees for a year, but at least two members are already beginning to jockey for the high-ranking post.

Reps. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Wally Herger (R-Calif.) have already declared their intentions to replace Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.), who announced on Friday he would retire at the end of the 110th Congress.

{mosads}“Frankly, he wishes he was staying,” said Camp spokesman Sage Eastman. Eastman said Camp, 54, has been encouraged to and will seek the position. “He’s reached out to other members and has received a lot of positive feedback,” Eastman said.

Herger, 62, who is the highest-ranking Republican on the panel after McCrery, confirmed his candidacy for the spot in a statement Monday.

“I’m sorry to see Jim McCrery leave the committee and Congress. He’s been a tremendous leader and legislator,” Herger said. “As the most senior Republican member of the Ways and Means Committee, I intend to run to succeed Jim and have already informed leadership of my intention to do so.”

He added, “I hope and intend to lead the Republicans on the committee next year — hopefully as their chairman.”

Herger and Camp made calls over the weekend to gauge support, according to sources familiar with the maneuvering.

Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas), who ranks behind McCrery, Herger, Camp and retiring Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) on the panel, did not comment, but he is not expected to seek the post.

Richard Hunt, McCrery’s former chief of staff, said the race would be no different than those McCrery and his predecessor, Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.), won in years past.

“With term limits you are going to have this at least every six years — you are not reinventing the wheel,” said Hunt, now the senior managing director of government relations for the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

While seniority plays a role in the selection process, it does not guarantee ascension to the seat. In 2000 Thomas was selected over then-Reps. Phil Crane (R-Ill.) and Clay Shaw (R-Fla.). Crane was the most senior member on the panel at the time.

Herger last year did not contest McCrery for the position even though he had more seniority.

“The biggest winner might be the [National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)] because one of the items they look at is the amount of money that is raised for the party,” Hunt said.

Herger has contributed $64,000 to GOP candidates this year, including $25,000 to the NRCC. Camp has given $55,000, all to the NRCC, according to CQMoneyLine.

Both Herger and Camp have conservative voting records, which is key to getting selected by the Republican Steering Committee. In 2006, Camp was the only House Republican to belong to the conservative Republican Steering Committee and the centrist Main Street Partnership, according to the Almanac of American Politics.

Another contender to watch, according to two lobbyists who follow the committee closely, is Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee.

Ryan could not be reached for comment.

Ryan, 37, is only in his fifth term in Congress and would have to jump over eight lawmakers with more seniority to get the nod.

Still, two lobbyists said Ryan is seen as a solid conservative and team player who would be effective at crafting a GOP message on the tax-writing committee.

“He’s one of the staunchest supporters of the Bush tax cuts,” noted one lobbyist, who listed Camp, Herger and “one of the younger guys” as the likely top candidates to succeed McCrery.

He and one other K Street insider mentioned Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) as another junior Ways and Means member who would make an effective GOP leader on the committee. Cantor, however, likely would have to give up his position in GOP leadership to make the move, and would also have to jump several lawmakers with more experience.

Cantor’s office confirmed he would not seek the post.

Committee members Reps. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) and Phil English (R-Pa.) said it was too soon to begin thinking about the position.

“He was a little surprised to hear that Rep. McCrery retired,” said Hulshof spokesman Scott Baker.

Reps. Ron Lewis (R-Ky.) and Kevin Brady (R-Texas) said they were not considering a bid.

“Oh, heavens no, I’m way too far down in the pecking order,” Brady said. “I’m sorry to see Jim go; he was the ideal ranking member.”

“In deference to more senior members on the committee, Congressman Lewis does not intend to pursue the ranking member position,” Lewis spokesman Mike Dodge said. “He plans to speak with Rep. McCrery and other colleagues this week … Given his rising seniority, he does hope to be ranking member or chair of a subcommittee in the next Congress.”

Rep. Tom Reynolds (N.Y.), a former NRCC chairman who sits on Ways and Means, is not running to replace McCrery.

Ian Swanson contributed to this report.