WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As lawmakers
return to finish their business on Capitol Hill before a new
session of Congress begins in January and new Members sworn in,
Washington is a buzz about whether
there will be any changes in leadership of both chambers and its
committees. In its continuing series of exclusive reports
WASHINGTON After the
Election, Cassidy & Associates removes the guesswork with
its Leadership Report, tracking the next steps of leaders on
Capitol Hill and identifying those who will make them.
"Our series of exclusive reports from our public policy experts
confirms that the political power structure that emerges from the
election has immediate consequences in the leadership on Capitol
Hill and will ultimately affect the policy outcomes. Policy
stakeholders can shape those outcomes, but only if they are fully
engaged and recognize that managing their Washington risk has never been more
important," said Cassidy CEO Gerald S.J.
Cassidy.
The snapshot of the full Leadership Report posted online
shows:
http://www.cassidy.com/blog/332/
THE HOUSE:
REPUBLICANS: Our sources indicate that it is unlikely
that any freshmen will have the ability in the 113th Congress to
serve on the highly desired Ways and Means or Energy & Commerce
Committees.
Cassidy & Associates expects two contested races for
Republican leadership: McMorris
Rodgers (WA) v. Price (GA) for Conference Co-Chair and Foxx
(NC) vs. Denham (CA) for Conference Secretary. While the
outcome of these races is unknown at this time, the vote outcome
could provide interesting insight into the mindset of the
post-election Republican caucus
DEMOCRATS: Barring a Pelosi retirement, the top three
Democratic Leaders are expected to maintain their roles, with the
only possible change happening with the Caucus Vice Chairman slot,
currently held by Rep. Xavier
Becerra of California.
COMMITTEES:
House Appropriations Committee: Ranking Member Norm Dicks
(D-WA) is retiring and both Marcy
Kaptur (D-OH), the most senior Appropriations Democrat, and
Nita Lowey (D-NY), the
fourth-most-senior Democrat on the panel, are in the running to
succeed him. Early indications give the advantage to
Representative Lowey.
House International Relations Committee: U.S. Rep.
Chris Smith (R-NJ) has the seniority
to take over chairmanship of the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs, where Chairwoman Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) has reached the end of her committee
chair term limit, however, our sources give the advantage to Rep.
Ed Royce (R-CA), who said he plans
to seek the chairmanship. The Democratic ranking membership slot
also is open after Rep. Howard
Berman's (D-CA) loss to Brad
Sherman in their California
faceoff. Sherman wants the job but will likely face opposition,
from Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY).
House Science Committee: While he is not retiring,
current Chairman Ralph Hall (R-TX)
is likely to cede the Chairmanship to fellow Texan Lamar Smith, who is himself term limited as the
current Chair of the Judiciary Committee. However, former
Science Committee Chairman Jim
Sensenbrenner (R-WI) has also expressed interest in
reclaiming a leadership role to where he would act as an
"anti-climate hawk." Dana
Rohrabacher (R-CA) is also expressing interest in the
chairmanship. All early signs, however, point to Rep. Smith.
THE SENATE:
DEMOCRATS: Senator Harry
Reid (D-NV) is expected to continue as Majority Leader.
REPUBLICANS: Despite what many see as disappointing
election results, Republican Leader Mitch
McConnell (R-KY) is expected to return to that position.
We expect that Senator Jerry
Moran (R-KS) will vie for NRSC Chairmanship.
COMMITTEES:
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee: Current
Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-OK) will be assuming the Ranking
Member position on the Armed Services Committee, which leaves
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) to take
the Ranking Member role. Senator Boxer (D-CA) is expected to
continue as Chairwoman, but in recent days has expressed interest
in the Foreign Affairs Committee Chairmanship if Senator Kerry
departs for the Administration.
A full copy of WASHINGTON,
After the Election, Leadership Report, can be obtained through
Cassidy & Associates.
CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES | Through a consistent commitment to
excellence established by Gerald S.J Cassidy in 1975, Cassidy &
Associates deploys distinctively designed government relations
strategies. As a trusted advisor, the Cassidy team, protects and
connects clients around the world while delivering the results of
an unrivaled Washington track
record.
Learn more at www.cassidy.com
SOURCE Cassidy & Associates