House Budget Committee Chairwoman Diane Black (R-Tenn.) might not finish out her congressional term as she focuses on her run for governor, according to a report in The Tennessean confirmed by The Hill.
“We haven’t made that decision yet,” Black was quoted as saying at a gubernatorial candidate forum at Nashville’s Tennessee State Fair.
Black added that she’s still hoping to pass a 2018 budget resolution through the House, but a whip count last week did not turn up the necessary votes.
{mosads}The conservative House Freedom Caucus is withholding its support from the budget because they want more details on the plan for tax reform.
“I’m still doing what I promised I would do and that’s to try to get the budget across the line,” Black said. “It’s out of my committee, but I feel obligated to continue to work to get that done and we’re working on that right now.”
Black was expected to step down from her chairmanship after the resolution passed, and the competition to replace her as Budget chair is already in full swing.
In August, The Hill reported that Reps. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) Rob Woodall (R-Ga.) and Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) were the central players on the committee seeking the gavel.