| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: Politix |
| Anti-Iraq war Rep. to head House intelligence panel |
| 2006-12-01 |
| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iraq war opponent Silvestre Reyes will become chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives intelligence committee when Democrats take control of Congress in January, Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi said on Friday. In choosing Reyes, a former border patrol agent and Vietnam War veteran, Pelosi skipped over two more senior Democrats to head the committee. The top-ranking Democrat on the panel, California Rep. Jane Harman (news, bio, voting record), has had strained relations with Pelosi, and the next in line, Rep. Alcee Hastings (news, bio, voting record) of Florida, is a former federal judge who was ousted from that post after allegations of corruption. Pelosi said of Reyes: "When tough questions are required, whether they relate to intelligence shortcomings before the 9/11 attacks or the war in Iraq, or to the quality of intelligence on Iran or North Korea, he does not hesitate to ask them." Reyes, a five-term congressman who won reelection in November, is expected to seek more information about the Bush administration's classified programs since the September 11 attacks to gather data on enemies inside and outside America. The committee has oversight of U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, FBI, National Security Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #2 Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the Speaker of the House is usually a straight party vote, but both side vote in an open election. I recall in New Mexico a few years back the Trunks actually voted for an alternative Democrat who was running against the usual machine hack and the few Donks who joined in succeeded in putting in a new Speaker. Since the vote for Speaker doesn't happen till the next Congress convenes and its the Speaker who appoints committee heads and assigns offices, it might be time for the Trunks to align themselves with something nearer to a rational Donks for some interesting times in January. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2006-12-01 16:47 |
| #1 Let the leaking begin. Begin to become a torrent, I mean. |
| Posted by: Jonathan 2006-12-01 13:19 |