WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. House Republican Steering Committee selected chairmen-elect for the powerful Appropriations Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee.
The committee Tuesday tapped Rep. Harold Rogers of Kentucky to lead the appropriations panel and Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
The full House Republican Conference was to vote Wednesday on whether to ratify the panel's recommendations, a vote largely seen as a formality, political observers said.
Rogers bested challengers Reps. Jerry Lewis of California and Jack Kingston of Georgia, a favorite of the Tea Party movement, to win the appropriations chairmanship.
Upton was selected over Reps. Joe L. Barton of Texas, John Shimkus of Illinois and Cliff Stearns of Florida for the Energy and Commerce leadership post.
Lewis and Barton would have required them to ask Republican leaders to waive term-limit requirements as outlined in the caucus's rules of the House, the Post said.
Democrats are scheduled to chose their ranking members Thursday.
