[Cross-posted from Congress Matters]
A couple of weeks ago, when he was asked what he would pick if he could choose a committee to sit on, then-candidate Merkley said:
If I had my choice I'd sit on the energy or environmental committee. I believe that our energy security is an important part of our national security and our economic security.
Those would be the Energy and Natural Resources committee and the Environment and Public Works committee, respectively. Hillary Clinton's planned departure to head the State Dept. leaves an opening on the latter and three of its subcommittees (including chairmanship of the Superfund and Environmental Health subcommittee, which might go to Max Baucus or Barbara Boxer). [Update: Joe Lieberman is also gone, oddly enough, which opens up a second Democratic spot and three subcommittee spots, one of them another chairmanship that (again) might go to Max Baucus or Barbara Boxer (h/t BooMan for reminding me about that).] Republicans John Warner and Larry Craig are out too, so there's another two spots plus four subcommittee memberships, though I don't know how those will be apportioned between the parties and going by the 103rd Congress, Democrats will probably pick up one of those seats.
Also, his defeated opponent Gordon Smith is on Energy and Natural Resources (and three subcommittees), so they're accustomed to having both Oregonians in there. Again, I don't know what the partisan split will be; but with Larry Craig and Pete Domenici also saying sayonara and the balance of Senate membership so dramatically shifted, it seems reasonable that Merkley could nab one of the three newly empty spots there.
Unfortunately, fellow Oregonian Democrat Ron Wyden is already on Energy and Natural Resources, and both parties generally prohibit two Senators from the same party and the same state on the same committee. So, that one is right out, along with the others that Wyden is on: the Finance, Budget, Intelligence and Aging committees.
However, it appears to be normal for Senators to sit on three or four committees. (I really didn't pay much attention to Congress before this year, so correct me if I'm wrong.) So, what else might Sen.-elect Merkley like to join? As I'm not privy to his thoughts, I'm looking at his record.
Since Merkley's responsibilities to his constituents in the Oregon House encompassed such a broad range, I'm going to focus on his voluntary associations and earlier, narrower jobs. A quick glance at Wikipedia shows long-standing and continuing interests in foreign affairs and affordable housing:
Following the completion of his masters in 1982, Merkley was selected as a Presidential Management Fellow, where he worked at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, focusing on the issues surrounding the security of American military technology. At the completion of his fellowship, he worked in the Congressional Budget Office, analyzing nuclear weapons policies and programs.[4]
Merkley returned to Portland in 1991 to serve as executive director of Portland Habitat for Humanity.[5] He also started the Walk for Humanity, launched development of the Habitat Home Building Center, and initiated a pilot project for "YouthBuild" in which gang-affected youth built homes in their own neighborhoods.[6] He served as Director of Housing Development at Human Solutions, where he worked to make available affordable housing complexes[7] and launching Oregon’s first Individual Development Account (IDA) program that helps low-income families save money to buy homes, attend college, or start businesses.[8] Jeff Merkley was President of the World Affairs Council of Oregon[9] for seven years and continues to serve on the Board of Trustees.[10]
Given his track record, I expect that Merkley would also like to be on the Foreign Relations committee and the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee. [Update: He's particularly well-qualified for the former, since his undergraduate degree was in International Relations.] Our Pres.-elect Barack Obama and VP-elect Joe Biden will be leaving behind two empty seats on Foreign Relations, including the chairmanship and eleven (!) subcommittee memberships (one of them a chairmanship), so it looks like Merkley would have good odds if he wants on. And, that's even without taking into account Chuck Hagel's retirement -- so add four more subcommittee openings -- or the potential loss of Norm Coleman (who is only on three subcommittees, the slacker) that Democrats will probably pick up another seat in the partisan apportionment.
That just leaves Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs. I think it would be the hardest position of the four very difficult for Merkley to obtain as an incoming freshman. There are three Republicans leaving -- Chuck Hagel, Wayne Allard and Elizabeth Dole -- with nine subcommittee memberships between them. However, financial instutions usually have a lot of money sloshing around -- capital allocation is what they do, after all -- so my impression is that the oversight and regulation of them is notoriously lucrative. The Senate Republicans will probably fight tooth and nail to keep as many spots on it as they possibly can, and I'm assuming that any new Democratic seat(s) would go to a more senior member who has been lusting after it anyway.
That just leaves Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs. Like Energy and Natural Resources, it might be impossible for Merkley to get on this committee, but for a completely different reason: it's an "A" committee, the Environment and Public Works committee is another "A" committee, and the Foreign Relations committee is a "super A" committee. Senators are generally limited to only two "A" committees, of which only one can be "super A." So, if Merkley gets on Environment and Public Works (which is in the top two of his wishlist) and Foreign Affairs (which is a fantastic fit and a prestigious "super A"), then his frosh quota for "A" committees would be filled and Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs would be verboten to him.
However, Merkley can also be on one "B" committee. The choices there are Rules and Administration; Small Business and Entrepreneurship; Veterans' Affairs; and the Joint Economic Committee. (Wyden is already on the Budget committee and the Aging committee.) It's hard for me to tell, but the Individual Development Account program that he launched implies that Small Business and Entrepreneurship might be a good fit.
Merkley also has a Master of Public Policy from Princeton, plus he's been very successful as Speaker of the Oregon House, so he'd probably be very good at Rules and Administration if he wanted to do that instead. I have to say, it sounds dry as dirt to me, but that's just my own prejudice; I've found that there are all kind of strange things people enjoy, as long as it's a good fit. Besides, it looks like the only way he's getting on either of those two is if it gets re-apportioned with more Democratic members.
H/t slvn in the comments for clueing me in that the rules are more complicated than I realized. I know, this is all just speculation and we'll find out eventually, but it's been a good learning experience for me. I hope that you enjoyed it too!