Republicans fill coveted openings on Ways and Means

The House Republican Steering Committee selected Republican Reps. Nathaniel Moran, Rudy Yakym, Max Miller and Aaron Bean to join the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee next year, according to a source familiar with the vote.

The panel will be at the center of next year's mammoth battle over tax cuts pushed by President-elect Donald Trump, with Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) in the thick of plotting strategy for the effort.

The new members will replace Reps. Brad Wenstrup of Ohio and Drew Ferguson of Georgia, neither of whom sought reelection to the incoming Congress. Rep. Michelle Steel of California also won’t be rejoining the committee next year, after losing reelection to Democrat Derek Tran for her Orange County seat.

Several other members had indicated interest in the coveted Ways and Means seats but didn’t end up nabbing the spots.

“There’s plenty of talent, more talent than we have spots,” said House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), a member of the steering committee.

A seat on the committee — which deals with taxes, trade and other issues — is always considered a plum assignment. But it will be an even more powerful perch next year, with jurisdiction over numerous policies Trump has touted.

The new members represent areas of the Midwest, the South and the West: Moran is from Texas, Yakym from Indiana, Miller from Ohio and Bean from Florida.