House Republicans Choose Committee Chairs - December 8, 2010

The House Republican Steering Committee on Tuesday voted on contested committee chairmanships. Of interest to NAPH member hospitals: Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) was chosen to take the helm of the Committee on Energy and Commerce which oversees Medicaid. After a vigorous race, Rep. Upton beat ranking member Joe Barton (R-Texas), health subcommittee ranking member John Shimkus (R-Ill.) and Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) for the post. The steering committee installed Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.) as chair of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. The steering committee also selected Rep. Harold Rodgers (R-Ky.) to chair the Appropriations Committee. The steering committee did not name any appropriations subcommittee chairs at this time, and rank-and-file membership on each committee is likely to be determined in early January.