New York House Democrats, including members who lost their seats on November 2, want fellow New Yorker Edolphus Towns to keep the top spot on the Oversight Committee next year.
“As members of the New York delegation, we are supporting our colleague Rep. Edolphus Towns, current Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to become the committee’s Ranking Member,” the 25 Dems wrote in a letter to colleagues.
More on the brewing battle between towns and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) for the ranking member position here.
Assuming Democrats readopt the same caucus rules, as they’re expected to, the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee — led by Nancy Pelosi allies George Miller and Rosa DeLauro — will ultimately nominate one of the contenders to serve as the top Dem on oversight. But that nominee then needs to win a majority vote before the caucus. Some top Democrats worry that Towns lacks the muscle to really take on incoming chairman Darrell Issa. But even if the Steering Committee thinks somebody else deserves the job, Towns can still win the post if he has the support of the majority of Democrats.
You can read the full letter here.
Brian Beutler
Brian Beutler is TPM's senior congressional reporter. Since 2009, he's led coverage of health care reform, Wall Street reform, taxes, the GOP budget, the government shutdown fight, and the debt limit fight. He can be reached at brian@talkingpointsmemo.com.
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