Walden Nod for NRCC Chair Fuels Speculation about 2013 House Communications Subcommittee Role

Sessions said he thought Walden would be a good choice for NRCC chair if he decided not to run for NRCC reelection. His comments came during an event Wednesday sponsored by The Christian Science Monitor. Sessions said: “Greg Walden has been by my side and has seen the inner working of the committee for four years, and one could not have a more competent, professional person by their side, and I have great confidence in Greg, if I decide not to run for reelection of the NRCC.” A Sessions spokeswoman said she couldn’t confirm whether the chairman would seek reelection and could not say when he would announce his decision. Sessions has been NRCC chair since January 2009.

Walden is not actively lobbying for the NRCC post, and is preoccupied with the more immediate issues facing the Republican party, his spokesman said. Walden is “focused on the election right now and focused on maintaining the majority,” he said. “There is plenty of time to think about future positions in future sessions of Congress."

The prospect of Walden’s future at the NRCC has fueled speculation about whether he would subsequently relinquish his leadership of the Communications Subcommittee. If he does, Subcommittee Vice Chairman Lee Terry, R-Neb., could be next in line, said Veronica O'Connell, CEA vice president of congressional affairs. “I've heard about Walden being in line for NRCC chair. As the vice chair of the subcommittee, Terry would be the likely candidate to become chair,” she said. “I think he would be great. Terry is extremely tech-savvy and understands that over-regulation can and does stifle innovation."

The subcommittee would benefit from Terry’s leadership if Walden does leave his post, said Amy Mehlman, a telecom lobbyist at Mehlman Capitol Strategies. “Terry has been a thoughtful and engaged legislator who has contributed significantly to the telecom policy process in his tenure on the committee,” Mehlman said. “If chosen as chair, one could expect him to work closely and constructively with the [FCC] to modernize the archaic communications laws and advance a broadband-age agenda that rewards innovators, investors and entrepreneurs.” Terry’s spokesman would not comment.

Terry is no shoo-in for subcommittee chairman since he’s outranked by at least six other members of the full committee, a Republican lobbyist said. “In large part the House [Commerce] Committee tends to follow seniority in the allocation of subcommittee chairs. Terry’s pretty far down the line, and unless he has commitments from those above him it’s a bit presumptuous to say he’s next,” the industry lobbyist said. “Then again, Terry may have Upton’s support already, we just don’t know. We're just reading tea leaves at this point.”

Also in line to lead the Communications Subcommittee are Environment and Economy Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus, R-Ill., and House Commerce Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Stearns, R-Fla. A Shimkus spokesman said it’s unlikely the congressman would take on an additional subcommittee chairmanship role, and the representative wouldn’t speculate on whether he would relinquish his current chairmanship if another opportunity arose. “The focus will be on this fall’s election,” the spokesman said. “All that stuff will play out later.” A Stearns spokesman had no comment.

Even if Walden is tapped to become the next NRCC chairman, it’s unclear whether he would have to relinquish his subcommittee gavel. House GOP Conference rules limit the NRCC chair to a single committee membership and prohibits him or her from being a full standing committee chair, an NRCC spokesman said. The rules don’t specifically forbid subcommittee leadership positions, and the restriction can be waived with approval from the steering committee and the conference, he said.