Jason Chaffetz May Not Be Our Overlord

Here's a bit of news from Slate's Dave Weigel, who wrote the City Paper cover story on Rep. Jason Chaffetz earlier this year (when Chaffetz seemed very excited at the prospect of taking over the House subcommittee that oversees the District). Since the GOP won control of the House Tuesday, Chaffetz may have his eyes on things that don't involve trying to serve as mayor of D.C. from Capitol Hill:

Since Tuesday, however, there's speculation that Chaffetz will get another subcommittee assignment. One reason is that Chaffetz is seen by many Republicans, including Reform and Oversight chairman Darrell Issa, as a rising star, and they might want a higher-profile job for him. Chaffetz's office confirms that a reshuffle might give him a new assignment.

"We won't know for at least a couple of weeks," said Chaffetz's spokesperson Alisia Essig.

"There is no question that Jason will be a significant leader on our Committee and will be a subcommittee chairman," said Issa's spokesman Kurt Bardella. "We’re definitely going to want his input on which subcommittee he would prefer to chair."

If Chaffetz decides not to keep the D.C. gig, Rep. Brian Bilbray is next in line for the job—unless he, an Issa ally, is also reshuffled. So this is up in the air.

Bilbray, who represents San Diego, made some news earlier this year by claiming police could spot undocumented immigrants by looking at their shoes.

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http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2010/11/0 5/jason-chaffetz-may-not-be-our-overlord/

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