Hensarling Wins RSC Chair Race

Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-Dallas) has won his race for Republican Study Committee, defeating Kansas’ Todd Tiahrt.

Evidently, Tiahrt’s membership on House Appropriations Committee bothered some RSC members as they wondered if he would be aggressive in pushing for fiscal discipline. Hensarling, however, has no truly major committee assignments and thus no such baggage. The vote was 57-42.

Hensarling was the first RSC chairman in history to win without the support of the groups founders. Hensarling’s upward mobility has caused a schism among Texas Republicans in Congress, with Sam Johnson (R-Plano) on the side opposite Hensarling and Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) supporting Hensarling.

The victory is being hailed as a major victory and sign of better things to come for conservatives by sources including the conservative weekly, Human Events:

For the first time in weeks, things are looking better for conservatives. Fresh off yesterday’s victories in the Senate, this is welcome news that fiscal conservatives are alive and kicking.

For Texas, this means little, however. The RSC Chairmanship comes with little more Congressional poer other than a large bully pulpit. It’s not like a seat on a committee like Science or Appropriations where the people of Texas or Hensarlings’ district could actually get something for his work. Rather, all Hensarlings constituants get as a benefit is seeing their Congressman’s name in print as spokesman-in-chief for the far-right.

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