In quest for committee chair, Barton appeals to incoming Republicans

[highplainsdem]

Source: Fort Worth Star Telegram

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, is taking an aggressive approach to getting a waiver to become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee when the next session of Congress begins in January.

Barton, limited by GOP rules to six years as the top Republican on a committee, sent letters Thursday to the incoming 60-and-counting GOP freshmen asking them for support -- and the Energy and Commerce Committee press staff took the unusual step of publicizing it by distributing a copy of the letter.

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The freshmen are expected to be influential, but the task of selecting committee chairs and making appointments is delegated to the GOP Steering Committee, which is effectively controlled by the Republican leader, presumptive Speaker John Boehner of Ohio.

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Some political observers believe that Barton will have a tough time prevailing, in part because he briefly challenged Boehner as leader several years ago. Barton also got in hot water with Boehner after apologizing publicly to BP CEO Tony Hayward in June over what he called a White House "shakedown" for a $20 billion compensation fund. Barton later apologized, under pressure from Boehner and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va.

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Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/04/2605963/in-quest-for-committee-chair-barton.html

[DCKit]

1. "We're sorry you poisoned the Gulf".... Great sell. n/t