Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, barred from another term as Agriculture chairman, may seek the chairmanship of the banking committee. “I’ve been approached by several members” about the post, Lucas told Politico. The fifth-ranking Republican on Financial Services, Lucas said there was an appetite for “cleaning up Dodd-Frank, reining in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau” that chairman Jeb Henserling of Texas had not satisfied. Lucas also told Politico that Hensarling rebuffed his queries about chairing a subcommittee.
As Agriculture chairman, Lucas has criticized the Dodd-Frank financial reform law as overly burdensome on the derivatives markets and promoted legislation to narrow its jurisdiction, particularly on so-called end users. A Lucas-backed bill, passed by the House in June, combined reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission with end-user relief.
Roll Call says Mike Conaway of Texas, regarded as the front-runner to succeed Lucas as Agriculture chairman, “is the biggest team player” among the senior Republicans on the committee and “will likely have backing from (House Speaker John) Boehner, who appointed Conaway in 2012 to lead the Ethics Committee.”
The Republican Steering Committee, composed of House GOP leaders, regional representatives and leaders of major committees, will select committee chairs after the Nov 4 elections.