Club for Growth endorses Kingston for House Appropriations chairmanship

The Club for Growth Monday formally endorsed Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) to be the next chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The statement comes one day before Reps. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) and Kingston take their cases to the House Republican Steering Committee in their quests to become the next chairman.

Club President Chris Chocola said Kingston has a far better voting record than other senior panel members in terms of avoiding pork-barrel spending.

"He supports the inclusion of true pro-growth, limited government conservatives on the committee, greater transparency in the spending process and understands the fundamental mood change in the country about the size and scope of government," Chocola said.

“If fiscal conservatives want to get control of federal spending, we must first get control of the Appropriations Committee. And Jack Kingston gives us the best chance to accomplish that goal," he added. 

Kingston announced his bid Nov. 19, leading some fiscal conservatives to complain he had waited too long and that groups would not be able to mount an effective campaign to secure the gavel. Lewis, the current ranking member on the panel, needs a waiver from Republican term-limit rules.