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New House Speaker Gingrich Confirms Conservative Leadership Team, Signals Plan to Reduce House Committees

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As anticipated, newly elected House Speaker Newt Gingrich has put his conservative stamp on the House leadership team, confirming Gerald Solomon of New York as the head of the Rules Committee. This decision, combined with his plan to give Republicans a nine-to-four majority on the committee, highlights the critical role the Rules Committee plays in setting the terms of floor debate. Solomon, a conservative stalwart with a 100% approval rating from foreign policy and anti-abortion rating groups, had been in line for the chairmanship under Republican control due to his position as the panel's top-ranking minority party member.

Key Takeaways:

  • Gingrich has confirmed Gerald Solomon as the head of the Rules Committee, a key decision that underscores Solomon's conservative credentials.
  • Solomon's 100% approval rating from foreign policy and anti-abortion rating groups suggests his commitment to conservative priorities.
  • Republicans will give themselves a nine-to-four majority on the Rules Committee, a significant shift in power that will influence floor debate.
  • Gingrich does not necessarily plan to follow the lines of seniority in choosing other committee chairmen, a departure from traditional GOP practice.
  • Rep. Carlos Moorhead, the senior GOP member of two important committees, is apparently being bypassed for committee chairmanships, reportedly due to a lack of "energetic warfare for conservative priorities."
  • The Energy and Commerce panel could be eliminated altogether as House Republicans work to reduce the number of House committees by one-third, as outlined in the "Contract with America" plan.
  • Senate Republicans, taking control of the upper chamber, are cautious about setting an agenda, citing the more open rules of debate in the Senate.

Statistics:

  • Republicans will hold a 230-204 majority in the 435-member House, assuming they prevail in four unresolved contests.
  • House Republicans have drafted a plan to cut the number of House committees to 17, eliminating two committees, including Energy and Commerce.
  • Democrat Jane Harman is trailing Republican Susan Brooks by 260 votes in one of four unresolved House contests.
  • The Harman-Brooks contest, along with three others, is expected to be decided within a week.

Sources:

  • The Capitol Hill newspaper The Hill
  • CNN
  • House Republican transition team spokesman Ed Gillespie

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