House Republican leaders have backed down from their plans to strip a GOP lawmaker’s subcommittee chairmanship in retribution for a vote against trade legislation.
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said he will keep his role as House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee chairman.
The decision comes a week after Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, told Meadows he was losing the job after Meadows voted against a procedural resolution to advance a “Fast Track” trade package that is a top priority for Republicans.
“A number of people have asked me to reconsider that decision,” Chaffetz said Thursday. “Having spoken with Mark Meadows several times during the past week, I think we both better understand each other. It is in the best interest of the committee to move forward together. Therefore, I have asked Mark to continue in his role as sub-committee chairman.”
The reversal is a victory for the dozens of conservative lawmakers who regularly buck the GOP leadership on key legislation because they believe it violates promises they made to constituents.
It also comes on the same day that House GOP freshmen decided not to remove Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., as their class president after he voted against advancing the trade bill.
Many conservatives, including Meadows and Buck, belong to the newly formed House Freedom Caucus, which met this week to discuss ways they can defend themselves against retaliation by the GOP leadership.
GOP leadership turned to punitive measures after the majority of the Republican conference complained to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, that the rebel group was never punished for continually defying the leadership on key votes.
Meadows said he appreciated Chaffetz’s decision to restore his chairmanship. But he added, “I will continue to vote and conduct myself in accordance with my conscience, what my constituents want me to do, and what is best for the country.”
An additional three Republicans were stripped from the Republican whip team for voting against the measure. There was no move to reinstate them on Thursday.
