Congressman Cole withdraws name for Approps seat- assured he will be on committee in '09
Boehner tells Rep. Tom Cole: Your turn next
By Jackie Kucinich

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has assured Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) that he will support the House campaign chairman’s bid for a seat on the Appropriations Committee next year. In a Thursday evening statement issued after Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) was selected to replace ex-Rep. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) on the spending panel, Cole said he withdrew his name “shortly before the [House Republican] Steering Committee meeting.” Cole and Boehner clashed last year as Boehner pressed for staff changes at the cash-strapped National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). Cole balked and no staff changes were made.

In an interview with The Hill last month, Cole praised Boehner but stressed that as NRCC chairman, he makes the final calls at the campaign committee. Cole’s bid for the appropriations seat was a sensitive topic. GOP members and aides privately criticized his decision, noting that he was running against two politically vulnerable members. Read entire article at:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/boehner-tells-rep.-tom-cole-your-turn-next-2008-02-14.html