House GOP panel endorses Texan for Ways and Means chair

WASHINGTON (AP) — A panel of top House Republicans endorsed Texas GOP Rep. Kevin Brady on Wednesday to chair the influential Ways and Means committee, all but assuring that the 10-term veteran lawmaker will win the coveted post.

The speaker usually dominates the Steering committee, on which he has five votes.

Since helping to depose John Boehner, R-Ohio, as speaker, the rebellious House Freedom Caucus has demanded that the speaker's influence on the Steering committee be weakened, and Ryan is considering still-undefined changes.

After Brady's endorsement, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., tweeted his congratulations to his housemate, adding, "Don't think this gets you out of doing the dishes though!" The two men share a Capitol Hill town house with two other GOP lawmakers.