He'll likely address health care, taxes
The Courier-Journal
WASHINGTON -- Rep. John Yarmuth has been named to the House Ways and Means Committee, a key panel that is responsible for writing tax laws and legislation affecting Social Security, health care and trade.
The 3rd District Democrat's assignment for the 111th Congress, which convenes in January, was announced by his office yesterday.
"One of things I wanted to work on when I started to run (for the House in 2006) was health care, a universal health-care system," Yarmuth said in an interview. "There's going to be a lot of work done on that score in Ways and Means."
A new economic stimulus package being prepared by President-elect Barack Obama also will go through Ways and Means next year, Yarmuth pointed out.
"I suspect that will occupy a good deal of the first few months of the next Congress," the Louisville congressman said.
Longer-range fixes to the finances of the nation's huge entitlement programs also are likely to be a key focus of the committee, Yarmuth said.
"When you talk about the long-range prospects for the country, virtually anything you want to do depends on us fixing Social Security and Medicare," he said. "It would be nice if I could retire from this job saying I was part of fixing Social Security and Medicare."
The Ways and Means panel also has jurisdiction over social programs that aid low-income individuals and families -- areas Yarmuth wants to help improve.
In addition, the committee deals with trade policy, which he said is important to many companies in his district, including UPS and Brown-Forman Corp.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., issued a statement saying Yarmuth "will be a powerful voice for the people of Kentucky and indeed all Americans as a new member of the Ways and Means Committee."
"His experience and dedication will be instrumental to the efforts of the 111th Congress to take America in a new direction that restores economic security and gets our nation back on track," Pelosi said.
Yarmuth will give up his seat on the House Education and Labor Committee. He may seek a waiver to stay on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, though he said he hasn't yet decided on that.
Yarmuth's appointment means Kentucky will continue to have representation on the committee. Retiring Rep. Ron Lewis, R-2nd District, was a member of Ways and Means.
Rep. Geoff Davis, R-4th District, also is interested is joining Ways and Means, but the Republicans are not expected to make decisions on many new assignments until January.
Reporter James R. Carroll can be reached at (202) 906-8141.