Incoming House Minority Leader John Boehner announced the following list of GOP Ranking Minority Members for the forthcoming Congress: Agriculture Bob Goodlatte (VA) Appropriations Jerry Lewis (CA) Armed Services Duncan Hunter (CA) Budget Paul Ryan (WI) Education & the Workforce Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (CA) Energy & Commerce Joe Barton (TX) Financial Services Spencer Bachus (AL) Government Reform Tom Davis (VA) Homeland Security Peter T. King (NY) House Administration Vernon J. Ehlers (MI) Select Committee on Intelligence Pete Hoekstra (MI) International Relations Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL) Judiciary Lamar S. Smith (TX) Resources Don Young (AK) Rules David Dreier (CA) Science Ralph M. Hall (TX) Small Business Steve Chabot (OH) Standards of Official Conduct Doc Hastings (WA) Transportation & Infrastructure John L. Mica (FL) Veterans’ Affairs Steve Buyer (IN) Ways & Means Jim McCrery (LA) Two names instantly jump out on this list: Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-CA, who becomes ranking GOPer on the Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Don Young, R-AK, who becomes the top Republican on the Resources Committee. The GOP just got booted out of its Senate and House majorities after a dozen years in power largely because of the explosion of earmarks championed by Lewis and Young. Is the GOP’s way of saying “thank you” to Lewis and Young?
