Leadership races take backseat as GOP members eye panel openings

Open seats on influential committees will be grabbing much of the attention at the House Republican Conference reorganization meeting that starts on Wednesday.

Before the election, some congressional observers were predicting a slew of challengers to vie for House GOP leadership positions. And while there are a couple of leadership races under way, they have lacked much intrigue.

{mosads}There is no shortage of jockeying, however, on seeking seats on so-called “A” committees, such as the Ways and Means Committee.

The panel, which has jurisdiction over taxes, trade and Medicare, is high on GOP member request lists. At least 13 Republicans have expressed an interest in filling slots left vacant by retirements and election defeats earlier this month, according to sources familiar with the requests.

Due to Democratic gains on Nov. 4, several open seats could be eliminated when Democrats adjust committee ratios to reflect their increased majority, a decision that could occur as early as the end of this week.

At the start of the 110th Congress, 17 Republicans sat on the Ways and Means Committee. Six are retiring and two lost their reelection races.

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who is expected to win his unchallenged bid for minority whip on Wednesday, will retain his seat, according to a knowledgeable source.

Members who might seek a Ways and Means seat include Reps. Michele Bachmann (Minn.), Virginia Foxx (N.C.), Ginny Brown-Waite (Fla.), Henry Brown Jr.  (S.C.), Dean Heller (Nev.), Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), Mike Conaway (Texas), Geoff Davis (Ky.), Peter Roskam (Ill.), Dave Reichert (Wash.), Kenny Marchant (Texas), Vern Buchanan (Fla.) and Tom Price (Ga.).

Price and Conaway, who declared their intentions to seek the positions earlier this year following a rash of retirements from the panel, are considered to be top contenders.

There are many factors that play into panel decisions, including regional concerns. The bids by both Price and Conaway are hampered by the fact that Texas and Georgia are already represented on the powerful committee through Reps. John Linder (Ga.), Kevin Brady (Texas) and Sam Johnson (Texas).

A ranking membership is also up for grabs on the panel. Reps. Wally Herger (Calif.) and Dave Camp (Mich.) began campaigning to replace retiring Rep. Jim McCrery (La.) shortly following McCrery’s announcement nearly a year ago. Camp is viewed as the favorite to win the ranking member post.

The Financial Services Committee could also possibly see a shake-up. Conservative members of the House Republican Conference have complained privately that Rep. Spencer Bachus (Ala.), the ranking member of the panel, is not a strong enough counterpart to Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.).

{mospagebreak}Bachus has expressed no intention of leaving the post, and according to sources close to the discussions, voted in favor of the $700 billion bailout bill last month in order to keep his committee position.

There are also some openings on the House Appropriations Committee.

Keeping to a promise made in February, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said he would support National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole’s (Okla.) bid for the spending panel.

{mosads}The promise was made after Cole’s decision to remove himself from a pool of candidates for an open committee slot that went to Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.).

Lawmakers are chosen for the powerful committees based on the votes they receive on the Republican Steering Committee. Members of the new steering committee will be elected before the 111th Congress convenes.

Boehner’s support doesn’t guarantee Cole’s placement on the Appropriations panel. But should Boehner win his leadership race against long-shot challenger Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) on Wednesday, his five votes on the GOP Steering Committee would give Cole a significant advantage over the competition.

Cantor, who is unopposed in his leadership bid, will have two votes as the minority whip.

The rest of the 26-member committee is composed of members of elected leadership, the ranking members of the Rules, Ways and Means, Appropriations and Energy and Commerce committees as well as eight elected regional representatives and a member from the sophomore and freshman classes.

Like some of the top committees, the new Steering Committee will have a different look.

While the old Steering panel had nine regional representatives, the new one will only have eight because Florida was added to California and Texas as states that get their own seats at the Steering Committee.

Several regional representatives are retiring, including Ohio Rep. Ralph Regula and Illinois Rep. Ray LaHood, and others such as Camp will not seek their positions for a second term. A few regions were consolidated as a result of the losses the House GOP suffered in the elections.

The list of members on the Steering Committee is not publicly available. Members on the panel are subjected to intense lobbying about intra-conference decisions, such committee selections.