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Rep. Tom Price (Ga.) was nominated to succeed Republican
Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Jeb Hensarling (Texas), Price's office confirmed
Wednesday. Price secured the blessing of the group’s founders over
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), who had also expressed interest in the post.
Blackburn’s office said she supported Price and would not contest his
nomination.
The nomination does not mean that Price will necessarily
become the next chairman; if Blackburn or another member of the group objects
to the selection, a vote will be held in January. In 2006, Rep. Todd Tiahrt
(Kan.) was nominated but defeated by Hensarling.
“Under the bylaws, the chairman’s election may not occur
until a week after today’s nomination,” Hensarling wrote in a Wednesday memo.
“However, given the congressional calendar and the fact that the RSC will not
be able to schedule a meeting next week, it is the hope of the RSC founders to
receive by unanimous consent permission to waive the bylaws in this regard and
affirm the nomination immediately.”
Hensarling asked that members with an objection express
it to him within 24 hours.
RSC founders include Reps. Dan Burton (Ind.), John
Doolittle (Calif.) and Sam Johnson (Texas), and former RSC chairmen include
Reps. Mike Pence (Ind.), Sue Myrick (N.C.), John Shadegg (Ariz.) and
Hensarling.
Retired Rep. Ernest Istook (Okla.) was also a founding
member.
The new chairman is expected to have a higher profile in
GOP circles since the group’s 90-lawmaker-strong membership now makes up the
bulk of the Republican Conference. During his tenure, Hensarling was successful
in pushing the RSC inside the conference — at times compelling Boehner and his
leadership team to retool policy initiatives to bring them more in line with
the group’s priorities.
Rep. John Campbell (Calif.) also had initially sought the
chairmanship but withdrew his name following his decision to support the $700
billion rescue package to financial institutions — a bill most RSC members
vehemently opposed.
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