government
GOP physicians named to House committee posts
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 8, 2010
Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R, Texas), on Feb. 24 was named the highest-ranking Republican member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. The vacancy was created by the promotion of Rep. Greg Walden (R, Ore.) to be chair of the Republican leadership on Feb. 4. But Walden has only taken a leave of absence from the panel and will retain his seniority on it.
Also, Rep. Parker Griffith, MD (R, Ala.), was named to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dr. Griffith was elected in November 2008 as a Democrat, but switched parties in December 2009. He is the only freshman member of the panel.
The changes were approved by Rep. Joe Barton (R, Texas), the senior GOP member on Energy and Commerce. The committee is one of three in the House with jurisdiction over health care.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/03/08/gvbf0308.htm.
