Frank Takes Absence From Judiciary Committee Post
By Scott Brooks
WASHINGTON — Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), who recently became the senior Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, was forced to step down from his other committee post Tuesday to make room for a freshman party member.
In an afternoon vote, the House Democratic Caucus turned down Frank’s request to remain on the Judiciary Committee, where he has held a seat since entering Congress in 1981. Frank was granted a leave of absence, meaning he will retain his seniority on the committee should he return.
Looking to spread committee assignments among Democrats, new House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) rejected Frank’s request for a waiver to keep his Judiciary seat. Frank had submitted the waiver request earlier this month in hopes of being excused from a Democratic Caucus rule that would keep him from holding his two committee slots.
Under the rule, a ranking member may not serve on certain secondary committees, including Judiciary. Frank was named ranking member of the Financial Services Committee Jan. 6.
One other ranking Democrat, Rep. George Miller (D-CA), was also turned down Tuesday after requesting a waiver to keep his seat on the Resources Committee. Frank said he had spoken with Miller before the decision to remove them from their seats, and neither had expected to be approved.
“That’s the nature of life,” Frank said. “Anytime you do anything, you can’t do other things.”
With committee openings largely unavailable, Pelosi invoked the Caucus rule to free up slots for freshman Democrats. Under the recommendation of the House Democratic Steering Committee, Frank’s Judiciary seat was turned over to newly elected Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA).
Frank said his party was faced with special circumstances this year, noting that there would have been no freshmen on the Judiciary Committee had he not stepped down.
“I don’t think it’s a big political deal one way or the other,” Frank said. “That’s the rule. It’s a matter of fairness.”
Sarah Binder, an associate professor of political science at George Washington University, said the decision is probably not aimed at punishing Frank, who shares many of Pelosi’s liberal values. Rather, she said, it is in keeping with Pelosi’s rhetoric since her election.
“She wants to open up the party across ranks,” Binder said. “What she’s saying is, I want to reach deep down the ranks to find folks to represent the broad interests of the Democratic Caucus.”
Frank said the demands on his time have increased since he assumed his new role on the Financial Services Committee, which oversees securities, banking, insurance and housing. He said he currently spends “several hours” every day on committee work, which includes building a new staff.
Although a waiver would have kept him on both committees, Frank said holding the two positions would have stretched him too thin.
“Given the workload here, this is really probably the best thing for me,” Frank said. “I would have had a hard time being involved seriously in Judiciary matters.”
Published in The New Bedford Standard Times, in Massachusetts.
