Current House Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Joe Barton (R-TX) isn’t the only current member in that position who thinks time spent as RM should not count when computing leadership time under GOP’s self-imposed term limits. But there are also younger members pushing for a changing of the guard. Meanwhile, Democrat Communications contender Ed Markey (D-MA) is turning his attention elsewhere.
According to Politico, Jerry Lewis (R-CA) and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee is among members of the old guard Ranking Member class who do not want the last four years of Democratic control to count against their leadership term.
However, Jack Kingston (R-GA) is said to have his eye on the top of Appropriations, and is pushing for a decision on whether or not term waivers will be granted. He is among a group of younger conservative Republicans who think some of the older members have become too attached to earmarks and damage the Party’s ability to make an effective case for fiscal discipline.
On the Democratic side, Markey has indicated he is interested in becoming Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, removing his name from contention to take the top Democratic spot on the Communications Subcommittee, part of Energy and Commerce. The subcommittee is currently chaired by Rich Boucher (D-VA), but he is a true lame duck after losing his re-election bid. Top Democratic contenders to fill Boucher’s leadership position are thought to be Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Mike Doyle (D-PA).
