GOP, Eager to Set Policy, Names Senators to Top Committees

Republicans gained seats on powerful committees in Congress, marking an opportunity for them to put their stamp on key legislation in the new year, Politico reported.

With a 54-46 seat majority in the 114th Congress, GOP senators gained three seats on several top committees, Politico noted, including  Finance, Judiciary, and Environment and Public Works.

Among the Republicans named to serve on those committees come January are Dean Heller of Nevada, Dan Coats of Indiana and Tim Scott of South Carolina (Finance); and David Vitter of Louisiana, David Perdue of Georgia and  Thom Tillis of North Carolina (Judiciary).

Republicans also mark two new seats on the Agriculture, Appropriations, Armed Services, Banking, Budget, Commerce, Energy, Foreign Relations, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Indian Affairs, Joint Economic, Rules and Administration, Small Business, and the Select Committee on Aging and Veterans’ Affairs, Politico said.

The incoming Republican freshman class of senators also received several plum assignments, with West Virginia's Shelley Moore Capito headed to the Appropriations Committee alongside Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who comes aboard after his runoff win over Democrat Mary Landrieu. Other Appropriations newbies included James Lankford of Oklahoma and Montana's Steve Daines.

Decisions on who goes where are determined by The Committee on Committees, which is headed by Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, The Hill reported.

Before any of the new assignments can move ahead, however, Senate Republicans are required to ratify those assignments and select chairmen, The Hill said.

One race for a leadership position remains a toss-up. That is for the chairmanship of the Senate Budget Committee, where ranking member Jeff Sessions of Alabama was expected to take charge, but is now running for the post against Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi, The Hill reported.

Even as a power shift will soon be embraced on Capitol Hill, the final days of legislating in 2014 were marked by a sharp divide, PBS reported, with rifts taking place on both sides of the political aisle and public opinion of Congress remaining at a deep low.

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