Mica drops Transportation Committee waiver bid, supports Shuster

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) is dropping his bid to remain chairman of the House Transportation Committee and supporting Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) to be his successor.

Mica has been chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since 2010, but he is bumping up against term limits for committee chairmen set by House Republicans when they took control of the lower chamber.

The rules call for lawmakers to step down after six years as ranking member or chairman of a particular committee, unless they are granted a waiver by leadership.  

In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Mica said he accepts the decision to only give such a waiver to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). Ryan is being given a waiver to remain chairman of the House Budget Committee after his unsuccessful vice-presidential run.

"I accept the Republican Conference vote last week to continue counting ranking-member service toward full committee service as well as the ruling to not grant waivers, with the exception of Mr. Ryan," Mica wrote. "As you consider filling positions, I want to urge your consideration of Mr. Bill Shuster to lead the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Bill has served in two subcommittee leadership positions and he has both the experience and ability to assume this important position for our conference."

Shuster has been widely expected to replace Mica atop the Transportation Committee next year, and he has already formally declared his candidacy.

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