Free Republic

Two Republican lawmakers are battling to lead the powerful House Financial Services Committee in the next Congress. Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), the panel's ranking member, and Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) are competing for the chairmanship of the committee that oversees bank regulators and Wall Street. (Snip) The chairmanship of the Financial Services panel is a plum prize for lawmakers, given its enormous sway over the financial sector. The committee has more than 70 members and is now led by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who helped push a sweeping reform of Wall Street through Congress.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Southern California congressman is a leading candidate for one of the most powerful jobs on Capitol Hill - chairman of the House committee that determines government spending. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, won't talk publicly about his bid to lead the House Appropriations Committee, and there are no candidate debates or attack ads in this race. But behind the scenes Lewis is campaigning hard for the post, donating about $1.3 million to Republican candidates and causes and making pitches to fellow House members, individually and in groups. To demonstrate his fitness for the job to Republican leaders...

Wolf Blitzer talking with a reporter in S.D. The knives are already in Daschle's back. Reid and Dodd vieing for Minority Leader.