The Democratic Steering Committee released its committee assignments on Wednesday, and Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, and Michael Bennet, D-CO, earned coveted Finance Committee openings. More than a few senators-elect also grabbed spots that will help them back home. Freshman Sen.-elect Heidi Heitkamp, for example, earned a spot on Agriculture that will help in North Dakota. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts snagged the Banking spot many expected her to get, but also landed posts on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and Aging committees. Sen.-elect Tim Kaine’s appointment to Armed Services will help him, too, since Virginia is home not only to the Pentagon but to naval bases galore. Independent Angus King also made the panel, which could help him in Maine, where shipbuilding is still a big industry. IN THE HOUSE…HASC SUBCOMMITTEE WINNERS The HASC majority subcommittee shuffle for the new 113th Congress has produced a pair of clear winners: Republican Reps. Randy Forbes, who nabbed the top spot on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and Mike Turner, who’ll be running the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.
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Dec 2012
