Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) will be the next chairman of the House Appropriations Committee following the endorsement of a key group of the chamber’s Republicans today, elevating a long-time deal maker to a top negotiating position on government funding bills for at least the rest of the year.
The House Republican Steering Committee, lead by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), voted to replace retiring Chair Kay Granger (R-Texas) with Cole, the panel’s vice-chairman now serving his 11th term in the House.
Cole is expected to take over Wednesday after House Republicans ratify the Steering Committee’s decision and the change is formalized ...