From the New York Times: Tim Huelskamp, Anti-Establishment House Republican, Loses Primary in Kansas

Committee membership and constituency service still seems to matter, even in the age of the Tea Party.

- Click here for the article.

Representative Tim Huelskamp, a member of the hard-line conservativeFreedom Caucus, lost to a political newcomer on Tuesday in the Republican primary for his Kansas district.

Mr. Huelskamp, who was elected to Congress in 2010 and quickly earned a reputation for frustrating Republican leaders, was defeated byRoger Marshall, an obstetrician from Great Bend, in the primary for the First Congressional District, which covers western Kansas and much of the state’s center.

Mr. Marshall won with the support of business groups and the agriculture lobby, which had turned its back on Mr. Huelskamp after Speaker John A. Boehner had him removed from the Agriculture Committee in 2012, a crucial position for a legislator from a farm state. Mr. Huelskamp was a frequent critic of Mr. Boehner, who resigned last year amid strife with the Republican Party’s right wing.

“Getting kicked off the Agriculture Committee is a crime that can’t be forgiven,” Brian Scheideman, a 52-year-old driver’s education instructor, said after voting for Mr. Marshall in Wamego, The Associated Press reported. “I don’t mind the independent voice, but you’ve got to figure out how to work with people.”

Mr. Marshall had the support of the Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas Livestock Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, according to The A.P. Mr. Huelskamp had the backing of the billionaire Koch brothers’ political network, the Club for Growth and conservative colleagues who visited the state to campaign for him.

Rep. Weber's Committees

On January 3, 2012 Randy Weber sent out a press release announcing that we had been placed on the Science, Space, and Technology and Foreign Affairs committees.

"I am very excited to be on both committees,” said Congressman-Elect Randy Weber. “NASA is a neighbor to my district, while UTMB and a number of science and research-based entities reside within Congressional District 14. I will be a strong advocate for each of them on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The Foreign Affairs Committee will allow me the opportunity to champion our Nation and her able citizens, while learning more about the international issues impacting our borders.” Weber added, “I am looking forward to this opportunity to learn and grow on these committees and am grateful for the appointments given me.”


The decision on the Science, Space and Technology committee was made in mid December. Seven of the committees members in the 113th Congress will be from Texas, which gives the state some clout. Makes sense since the committee's jurisdiction includes the Johnson Space Center which is a major feature of the local economy. JSC is in the 14th District - so Weber's placement there makes perfect sense. No word right now on what subcommittees he will be on. A Texas Republican - Lamar Smith - will also chair the committee, taking over from another Texas Republican Ralph Hall.As if that is not enough - the ranking member - meaning the top Democrat - is also a Texan: Eddie Bernice Johnson.

From Texans on the Potomac:

The committee has strong impact on Texas and oversees NASA and research programs conducted in San Antonio at Southwest Research Institute, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, and the University of Texas Health Science Center.

“Clearly it’s an advantage,” said Louis DeSipio, professor of political science and Latino studies at the University of California Irvine. “What it will mean in practical terms is that when Congress gets around to allocating resources…Texas universities will be at an advantage. Larger Texas technology firms will be in a good position.”

FYI: Ralph Hall released a summary of the accomplishments of the committee during the 112th Congress.

Given the Houston area's position within internal markets - especially oil - Weber's appointment to the Foreign Affairs committee also makes sense. In addition, the committee allows for focus on border issues - illegal immigration and all that - which are important to his constituency.

The 14th District is a relatively safe one for Republicans. Now that he is an incumbent, there is little reason to think that he cannot hold onto this position as long as he likes. But being on these committees gives him enough opportunity to deal with the needs of constituents to be able to campaign effectively on that point. Republican leaders almost certainly took this into consideration when they made these appointments.

The Texas House Agriculture and Livestock Committee

In 2302 we discussed how the Texas Speaker can use committee assignments to reward and punish legislators, here's proof, sort of, involving Houston Rep Borris Miles.

View from the Gallery:

House Agriculture & Livestock is a very important committee for rural Texas. Speakers also use it as a rural penalty box for urban members who they want to put in "time out." I first observed this in 2003 when Rep. Lon Burnam was the only member to vote against Speaker Tom Craddick, and on to Agriculture & Livestock he went. In the penalty box this year: Rep. Charlie Howard (R - Sugar Land) UPDATE: I previously listed Rep. Boris Miles in the penalty box. That was incorrect: Rep. Miles requested appointment to Agriculture & Livestock.
House Urban Affairs is an important committee for urban Texas. However, it is often referred to as the "Houston" Affairs Committee because of the many intramural City of Houston fights it is asked to referee. For a rural or suburban member, it can be tedious work -- and an urban penalty box. Only 15 of the 150 members of the Texas House (10%) voted against the election of Speaker Straus. Four of the 9 members (44%) of Urban Affairs votes against the Speaker. Into the urban penalty box: Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford); Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound); Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney); and Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview).

A tale of two committees.
From a separate report, Miles apparently requested the committee assignment to pursue an urban farming initiative.

But to recap, urban members who vote against the Speaker go to the Agriculture and Livestock Committee, while rural members who vote against the Speaker go to the Urban Affairs Committee. Sweet.

Texas Speaker Makes Committee Assignments

As my 2302s know, this is one of the major powers the Texas Speaker has.

- Here's the list by committee.
- Press Release from Straus.
- Story in the Texas Tribune.
- Straus gives GOP members the plums, Democrats the crumbs with Texas House committee assignments

- Straus favors GOP in reshuffling of House leaders

- Commentary from Paul Burka:

The Joe Straus who put together these committee assignments was a different Joe Straus from the one who made the appointments in 2009. Straus 2.0 is a much more skilled politician. For those who had labeled him a RINO, he spiked that attack by appointing 27 Republican chairs to only 11 Democrats, a ratio well in excess of the Republican majority of 101 to 49. His enemies had focused on Straus’s appointment of Democrat Rene Oliveira as chairman of Ways & Means as evidence that he was too cozy with Democrats. Straus removed Oliveira as chairman but gave him another chairmanship (Land and Resource Management).

... I don’t see much for Straus’s critics to harp on. He has loaded up on Republican chairs, strengthened the Appropriations committee, and banished his enemies to the dark corners of the Capitol. This guy knows what he is doing.

Dewhurst Announces Senate Committee Assignments

This is one of the tools available to the president of the Texas Senate that grants him leverage over the rank and file.

- story in the Chron.
- story in the Texas Tribune.

Area Senator Mike Jackson is on the Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Business and Commerce, Natural Resources, and State Affairs committees. Both 2301 and 2302 students ought to consider what exactly the Senator is able to do to address constituency needs in each of these committees.