Toomey to replace DeMint as head of GOP Steering Committee

The Morning Call ^ | 4-26-2012 | Colby Itkowitz

[smoothsailing]

Toomey to replace DeMint as head of GOP Steering Committee

By Colby Itkowitz

Call Washington Bureau

April 26, 2012

Washington— Pat Toomey's U.S. Senate GOP colleagues have tapped him to take over as head of the Senate Republican Steering Committe, a group that shapes conservative policy making on Capitol Hill.

Toomey will replace South Carolina Tea Party favorite Jim DeMint.

In handing over the job, DeMint in a statement said, “Sen. Pat Toomey is a proven and trusted conservative, and I'm very glad he's taking on this new role. I've fought hard over the last few years to help elect new conservatives to the Senate, and it's very rewarding to see them step into positions of leadership."

(History note: DeMint chose to endorse Toomey over Arlen Specter in the 2010 Republican primary. A few days after telling Specter this, Specter became a Democrat.)

Toomey's selection marks the confidence of his peers. While it's not an official leadership post, senators who have had the job before him have gone on to capture larger responsibilities. Among them, Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl is now the second ranking in the Republican caucus and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions is ranking Republican on the Budget Committee....

[upchuck]

Me too. Jim has said he has no desire to run. But I’m hopeful. I have a sneaking suspicion Sarah has something up her sleeve. We’ll see.

[onedoug]

Steering into oblivian. And other Senatorial fairy tales. Like islam.

[matthew fuller]

If it’s going to be an open convention, Palin just might show up. And Newt. Might be a very interesting convention.

[maine yankee]

Thanks for that. Gotta love DeMint. I still wish he had jumped into the pres race

---

Why else do you think he made this move now ?

[upchuck]

I’ll die if Senator DeMint even thinks about running with Romney.

Jim did endorse Myth, which I don't understand. Perhaps if Jim does run as VP some of his conservatism will rub off on mittens.

[nakutny]

DeMint said that after a closed discussion with Romney and other republicans Romney assured them that he agrees with Ron Paul’s concern about the Fed and vows to go after them if elected, which is what DeMint was looking for.