http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/nancy-pelosi-john-boehner-congress-112838.html?hp=b1_l2Pelosi to Boehner: Treat us ‘fairly’ on seats
By Lauren French
11/12/14 6:31 PM EST
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is asking Speaker John Boehner to treat Democrats fairly when Republicans are divvying up seats on Congress’ most influential committees for next Congress.
The California Democrat wrote to Boehner (R-Ohio) on Wednesday to make the case that Democrats should have roughly the same number of committee seats for the session that begins in January as past minorities received.
“In the spirit of bipartisan cooperation, I am writing to ask the Democratic members be treated fairly in regards to membership on standing committees,” Pelosi wrote. “Specifically, we are asking that the minority party receive a similar number of committee slots….as we provided to the Republican minority in the 111th Congress.”
Republicans floated the idea this week that Democrats will lose anywhere 2 or 3 seats on each committee - a dramatic cut for Democrats who are entering the 114th Congress will roughly a dozen fewer members.
But that initial number is likely just a starting point for negotiations between the two parties over committee spots and other priorities.
Pelosi argued in her letter that Democrats compromised with Republicans in 2009 when the GOP was in the House minority, giving them additional seats. Republicans then had 178 members at the time.
The main contention will be over so-called “A committees, ” which include the Ways and Means, Appropriations and Energy and Commerce panels.
