Sen. Corker to leave Energy committee

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) plans to leave the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, opening a spot for another GOP lawmaker.

Corker told E&ENews PM on Thursday that he would leave the committee. He is next in line to become ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the top Energy and Natural Resources Republican, confirmed Corker’s intentions. She said no one has approached her to fill Corker’s seat.

“I think everyone was kind of waiting to see what was going to happen with anything that might open up,” Murkowski told reporters.

Robert Dillon, Republican spokesman for Energy and Natural Resources, said he expects the GOP will retain the same number of committee slots next Congress. He said the party already has two fewer members than Democrats, while most committees maintain a one-seat difference.

Murkowski said she had known Corker was leaning toward leaving the committee.

“But you don’t ever want to assume and make it look like you want to get rid of him because I like him on the committee. I value him, and I’m going to miss him,” she said.