Huelskamp Seeks Committee Reinstatement

December 7, 2012

Huelskamp Seeks Committee Reinstatement

(DODGE CITY, KAN.) – On Monday, Congressman Tim Huelskamp was informed that he had been taken off the House Budget and Agriculture Committee for the 113th Congress. He is one of four members to have lost his preferred committee assignments. Although no official explanation has been given by Republican leaders, it has been widely reported that Congressman Huelskamp is being punished for his conservative voting record. On Friday, he sent a letter to Speaker Boehner and the Steering Committee requesting that he be re-seated on his two Committees because of his areas of expertise and experience and the needs of his constituents. The Steering Committee is expected to reconvene the week of December 10, 2012.

"Since I learned that I had been punished for my votes by being removed from the House Agriculture and Budget Committees, our offices have been overwhelmed with calls and emails of support for my principled leadership on the nation's most pressing issues of the day," Congressman Huelskamp said. "Kansans and people across the country believe – as I do – that it is simply wrong to remove a Member of Congress from a Committee, because he votes his conscience and votes in the interests of his district. It was no secret when I was assigned to these Committees two years ago that I would hold Washington to a higher standard when it comes to getting our fiscal house in order and restoring government to its proper size and role. I followed through on those promises to Kansans and will not cave on the principles and values that my constituents and I share."

The full text of the letter can be found below:

December 7, 2012

Dear Speaker Boehner,

I note that the Steering Committee has yet to fill the available seats on the Agriculture or Budget Committees. I respectfully renew my request to be appointed to a seat on each when the Steering Committee reconvenes.

The Agriculture and Budget Committees fall directly within my areas of expertise.

I am a fifth-generation farmer, earned a Ph.D. in Agriculture policy-making from American University, and represent one of the most productive agricultural districts in the country. The Big First - home to two past chairman of the Committee, including Senator Pat Roberts, as well as Senator Jerry Moran and Senator Bob Dole - will no longer be permitted a voice on the panel after more than 50 consecutive years of representation.

I served as a Budget Analyst in New Mexico, 14 years in the Kansas State Senate and two years on the House Budget Committee. I offer nearly 20 years of budget research, development, and leadership to the Budget Committee. I led efforts to reform Medicaid in Kansas and called for entitlement reform in Washington – as lead sponsor of nutrition program block grant legislation and lead co-sponsor of Medicaid block grant legislation.

Thank you for your consideration to reinstate my committee assignments.

Cc: Republican Steering Committee Members

###