The reaction to Joe Barton's apology to BP in a recent House Energy and Commerce Committee (wikipedia) meeting gives us insight into the contemporary workings of the House Republican Conference, the strength of the party's leadership, and the autonomy of the committee system. It also helps understand how the party is positioning itself or the upcoming elections and the readjustments it is making due to the politics of the oil spill.
Barton is the ranking member of the committee (meaning he would become chair if Republicans take control of the House in November), which has jurisdiction over national energy policy and oversees the Energy Department. It is also one of the oldest committees in Congress. It's constitutional authority derives from the commerce clause.
Barton is one of five Texas (3 Republicans) on the committee. As ranking member he is an ex-officio member of each of the committee's five subcomittees, as is the committee's chair, Henry Waxman. He holds his position, officially, because the House Republican Conference placed him there in deference to his seniority, but since parties dominate committees, not the other way around, they are in a position to remove him should they feel the need.
Here's a Barton quote to that end: “I am the ranking member and serve at the pleasure of the conference and hope that the conference has confidence that will allow me to continue to serve,”
This would have been impossible in the days of strict seniority when Barton's position would be guaranteed due to his senior years of service. Parties now matter more than committees though.
Interestingly, Barton's original position (the apology) seems to have the support of the Republican Study Committee, a caucus composed of conservatives Republicans (roughtly 2'3rds of the Conference). They seem to have approved of his position on the apology - and that the $20 billion set aside was abusive and perhaps unconstitutional. So this suggests that in the Republican Party, perhaps party leaders themselves take a back seat to the conservative wing of the party.
Here are some related stories:
- Eric Cantor, The Republican Whip, defends the party's decision to keep Barton in his post to Joe Scarborough.
- The Republican Study Committee (wikipedia), a caucus of conservative Republicans, had already made the same argument Barton made.
- Barton apologizes to fellow Republicans in a closed door meeting. Similar story in The Hill.
