The House Republican Steering Committee appointed Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) to fill an open Appropriations Committee seat that has been vacated by embattled Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.).
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced the change in a statement and congratulated Calvert.
{mosads}Prior to the selection, questions had been raised about whether Calvert should be appointed to the committee because of allegations that he helped facilitate the passage of an earmark to benefit himself financially. The lawmaker has denied any wrongdoing.
Boehner said the issue was raised and addressed to the satisfaction of the GOP steering panel.
“Congressman Calvert answered every question asked of him by the Steering Committee,” Boehner said, “It was a candid and frank conversation, and the members of the Committee were satisfied with his answers.”
The decision keeps the seat in the California delegation, a position strongly advocated by Appropriations Committee ranking member Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.).
Calvert was passed over for a seat on the panel in 2006, when Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was placed on the committee to replace imprisoned lawmaker Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.).
Doolittle stepped down from the panel last month after the FBI raided his Northern Virginia home.
Democrats immediately criticized the choice, saying that due to he allegations against Calvert, it appeared that they were swapping one embattled lawmaker for another.
“Boehner’s decision to replace one corrupt congressman with another is the latest reminder that the ‘culture of corruption’ is alive and well in the Republican Party," said Doug Thornell, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.