Neal may seek Ways and Means chairmanship

Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) barely has his chairman's seat warm and fellow Democrats are already gunning to replace him.

The Boston Globe reports that Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.) will likely seek the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee later this year, a post Levin was appointed to after Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) stepped aside earlier this week.

Levin has more seniority than Neal, but the Massachusetts Democrat got a big vote of confidence from Democratic caucus John Larson:

“I think Richie is probably the most capable and knowledgeable person that we have on the Ways and Means Committee,’’ said Representative John Larson, Democrat of Connecticut and chairman of the House Democratic caucus, which would cast the ultimate vote on the chairmanship.

“I think he has extraordinary ability, and I think he has the confidence of the members of the Ways and Means Committee,’’ said Larson, who must officially remain neutral because of his caucus chairmanship position.

Levin has been mum about whether he hopes to keep the post. Asked about it on MSNBC today, Levin gave a non-answer.

"Let me put it this way, my job now is to take the gavel, to hit the table hard, hit the place running and I'm doing that. We have a lot in front of us," he said.