Dicks still interested in top slot on Defense panel, will wait for caucus decision

Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) will likely seek the top Democratic slot on the defense spending subcommittee while acknowledging that his caucus must make the final decision. 

Dicks, the senior Democratic member of the spending panel, also has expressed interest in leading the Subcommittee on Defense. 

"We'll have to wait and see now," he told reporters Thursday. "I will be on the subcommittee and at one point or the other there's going to be more discussion on this issue. I will abide by whatever the caucus decides."

On Thursday, Dicks received overwhelming support — on a 123-64 vote — to become the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, defeating Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.).

Dicks, who is from the Seattle area, has long been a friend of defense contractors and of Boeing in particular, which is has its headquarters in his district. He also can be expected to try to preserve Pentagon funding next year.

Some lawmakers have argued against lawmakers holding two leadership spots on any one panel. Retiring Appropriations Chairman Dave Obey (D-Wis.) also serves as chairman of the panel's Subcommittee on Labor—Health and Human Services—Education. 

"This is a caucus decision the rule has been there since 94 it's always been the tradition of Democrats to do it this way," Dicks said. "My preference would be to sustain that." 

Dicks will face-off next year with incoming Chairman Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), whom the Republican Conference on Wednesday formally tapped to lead the panel.