Now that Republicans have won the House, attention has turned to a battle underway within the GOP caucus for the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee, a coveted position leading Congress’ powerful tax-writing panel.
Three Republicans — Reps. Jason Smith, of Missouri, Vern Buchanan, of Florida, and Adrian Smith, of Nebraska — are openly vying for the post, which will be decided by party leaders. None is a clear favorite, and the committee’s current top Republican, retiring Rep. Kevin Brady, of Texas, has not endorsed anyone.
But while the contest for chair is still up in the air, one thing is certain: The next likely chairman of the Ways and Means Committee will drop the panel’s long-running effort to obtain former President Donald Trump’s tax returns.
[Uh, yeah — obviously. That effort was plainly politically motivated, even if legal under the current statute. Democrats’ midterm loss put an end to that maneuver. — Ed]
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