Towns gathers support in quest for oversight panel chairmanship

Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., is shoring up Congressional Black Caucus support to become House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman, even as members of the committee, egged on by lawmakers unsure about Towns, look for an opening to challenge him.

Despite concerns about Towns among House leadership, his seniority on the committee and CBC support could allow him to claim the chairmanship without a fight at a Democratic Caucus meeting expected the week of Dec. 8, House aides said.

Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who is vacating his post to take the Energy and Commerce gavel next month, last week privately offered support to Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., if he sought the chairmanship, a House aide said. But aides tracking the issue said Cummings, a former CBC chairman, is unwilling now to take on Towns in a bid likely to split the CBC, which strongly backs the seniority system. A Waxman spokeswoman declined to comment.

Some House staffers speculated Monday that Oversight and Government Reform National Security Subcommittee Chairman John Tierney, D-Mass., would seek the committee chairmanship. A Tierney spokeswoman did not flatly rule out interest by Tierney, but said he "is not seeking the chairmanship" and "has not heard from anyone" about it since he recently returned to Washington.

Three other subcommittee chairmen and Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the third-most-senior Democrat on the committee, have announced support for Towns, who a spokeswoman said will announce support from an unspecified number of CBC members early next week.

Reps. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., on Tuesday sent a letter supporting Towns' chairmanship bid to colleagues, noting his help in moving legislation they sponsored through his subcommittee. But some House aides suggest lingering doubts about Towns over several key votes in which he defied leaders might prompt House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to seek an alternative. Another problem Towns faces is lack of a reputation.

"He's totally anonymous," said a former senior House Democratic staffer. "Nobody knows him, knows what he does. He doesn't come to [party] Caucus meetings. He doesn't come to any meetings."

Despite regularly chairing subcommittee hearings, Towns has infrequently attended full committee hearings, records show. Whoever becomes chairman, Oversight committee members are moving to ensure continuity as Waxman exits. Waxman met recently with both Towns and Tierney regarding financial rescue oversight in December, according to aides.

Christian Bourge contributed to this report.