Alaska Rep. Don Young will give up his post as the ranking Republican on the House Natural Resources ¬committee for “the good of” the party, the 18-term representative announced Wednesday.
Young’s announcement came a day after news reports suggested that Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) was looking to have the Republican Steering Committee oust Young from his position. It also came as Republicans elected new ranking members of several committees.
{mosads}In his statement, Young said his decision was based on wanting to keep the GOP free from the “cloud that hangs over me.” Young is embroiled in a federal corruption probe that earlier this year brought down Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).
“I ran for and won my 19th term as Alaska’s lone representative this year, confident that the cloud that hangs over me will eventually clear as I know I have done nothing wrong,” Young said. “However for the good of the Republican Party, the right thing for me to do is temporarily step down from my post as ranking member on the House Committee on Natural Resources while my name is cleared. At that time, I look forward to regaining my post.
Separately, the GOP conference picked Rep. Dave Camp (Mich.) over Rep. Wally Herger (Calif.) to serve as ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee, which handles taxes, entitlements and other financial issues.
Camp and Herger had jockeyed for the position after ranking member Rep. Jim McCrery (La.), retired. Camp won despite serving fewer years in Congress than Herger.
“We are facing historic challenges as a nation, especially with regard to taxes and healthcare,” Camp said in a statement following his election. “The legislation coming through Ways and Means will have a huge impact on our ability to climb out of this recession, increase American competitiveness and guarantee access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans.”
The position has taken on greater focus in recent weeks as House Republicans have taken aim at Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), who is facing investigation into his ethics.
Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) was reelected as ranking member of the Financial Services Committee. Bachus had been criticized for his role in negotiations over the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street unpopular with House Republicans.
Republicans also selected Rep. John McHugh (N.Y.) as ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. McHugh is succeeding Rep. Duncan Hunter (Calif.), who is retiring.
The Republican Steering Committee and conference selected McHugh over Reps. Roscoe Bartlett (Md.) and Mac Thornberry (Texas).
The elections of Camp and McHugh were both expected, making Young’s departure as the ranking Republican on Natural Resources the biggest news of selection process so far.
“I have chosen to serve on the Committee on Natural Resources, in all of its forms, since the beginning of my almost 36 years in Congress,” Young said. “After spending six years as the chairman of the Resources Committee, and the last two years as its ranking member, it is time to allow another member to take the reins. I will remain fully engaged in the committee’s work on both national and Alaska issues …
“I wish all the best to the incoming ranking member. I look forward to continuing my work as a member of the Committee on Natural Resources this upcoming Congress with my good friend, Chairman [Nick Rahall, D-W.Va.], and to resuming my post in the future.”
Michael O’Brien and Roxana Tiron contributed to this article.
This story was updated at 5:15 p.m.