Defense panel loses longtime Dems

Tuesday’s election felled the most veteran Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee, including its chairman, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.).

Along with Skelton, Reps. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) and John Spratt (D-S.C.) were the most senior Armed Services members to lose their reelection bids. Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.), another old-timer who always played an important role in writing the military’s budgets, likewise lost his race for reelection. And Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas) was trailing by fewer than 1,000 votes. As of press time, he hadn’t conceded or said if he would request a recount.

{mosads}While the loss of the old bulls — who have overseen military policy for decades — will significantly reshape the prestigious panel, the defense industry is expected to find strong support among the Republicans slated to take over.

Republicans have already shunned the notion that the Pentagon budget should be trimmed as part of efforts to reduce the deficit. Some also have indicated that the 1 percent growth projected for future defense budgets may not be enough. Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), currently the Armed Services Committee’s ranking member, said the 1 percent growth in the future defense budget represents a “net reduction” for efforts to modernize weapons systems.

McKeon is seeking the chairmanship of the Armed Services Committee and is widely expected to win that spot.

On Wednesday, McKeon indicated that he would focus on providing the necessary equipment and resources for troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, but also on investing in the development of weapons systems. McKeon also said that military programs will receive vigorous oversight from the Republican-led panel.

McKeon’s district is a hub for aerospace companies, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman. McKeon has been a strong supporter of the development of military drones, some of which are hatched in and around his district.

Contributions from defense companies during this election cycle showed the clout McKeon had with the industry as the committee’s ranking member — and that clout is about to increase. Defense contractors’ political action committees contributed $129,000 to McKeon’s campaign coffers this year, more than doubling the amount from the previous election cycle.

While the definitive subcommittee line-up rests in the hands of the new House Armed Services chairman, most senior Republicans who are now ranking members on subcommittees are expected to become chairmen in January — the caveat is that there are still a lot of variables, and some might seek positions on other committees or want to claim different subcommittee spots.

As chairman, McKeon would have to make the call based on seniority but also on whether the lawmakers are the right fit for the subcommittee whose leadership they would be seeking.

Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), a strong supporter of Boeing who has fought for more Super Hornet fighter jets in the Navy, is likely to become the leader of the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces subcommittee with jurisdiction over naval and Marine Corps matters.

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), who has shown support for research development of new weapons systems, may become the chairman of the Air and Land Forces subcommittee, the panel responsible for some of the highest-profile programs, such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Air Force’s new refueling tanker aircraft, and the Army’s new Ground Combat Vehicle. Bartlett is not expected to challenge McKeon for the committee chairmanship.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon might have a harder time in its efforts to find billions in savings within the defense budget. If Virginia GOP Reps. Randy Forbes and Rob Wittman lead the Armed Services’ Readiness panel and Oversight panel, as expected, they are more than likely to demand the rationale behind some of the Pentagon’s decisions. The most prominent issue is the closure of U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va. Both Forbes and Wittman have been in a tug-of-war with Pentagon leaders to obtain data that led to the decision to close the command.

Rep. Joe Wilson (S.C.) is now the leading Republican on the Military Personnel subcommittee and could be its chairman come January. The same could be said for Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) as the chairman of the Strategic Forces panel. Meanwhile, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), who could lead the Terrorism and Unconventional Threats panel, is said to be interested in seeking the chairmanship of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, but his office did not return a request for comment by press time.

Also in flux is the overall committee membership — it remains unclear which newly elected Republicans will receive a spot on the prestigious committee. For example, Rep.-elect Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), who defeated Skelton, said that she had been promised a position on the panel.

The Democrats’ leadership on the committee is also in turmoil after the big losses. Ortiz would be next in line to become the committee’s ranking member, but the outcome of his race remained unclear as of press time.

If he loses, it would leave Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) with the option of staying ranking member on the Intelligence Committee or becoming the Armed Services ranking member — a position that would give him more power to help his heavily-military district. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) is next in line after Reyes.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the House Appropriations Committee is in doubt following the Republican victory. Several veteran Republicans are preparing for a fight to lead the powerful panel and its Defense subcommittee.

Republicans will have to decide whether the veteran lawmakers who want to keep the leadership of the panel and the Defense subcommittee, Reps. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) and Bill Young (R-Fla.), will receive waivers that would allow them to remain. Republicans are term-limited to six years in leading positions (that includes ranking positions) on panels.

Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) has been lobbying his colleagues to elect him the next chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The results of the Appropriations battle will have a cascading effect on who will ultimately lead the Defense subpanel. Young has been privately threatening he will retire if he does not become chairman of the Defense panel, according to sources.