An under-the-radar decision to add Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and about a half-dozen other members to the House Energy and Commerce Committee is causing some angst among House Democrats, according to three people familiar with the matter who were granted anonymity to detail private discussions.
In an unusual move, the Steering and Policy panel filled six out of the seven open slots on the Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday morning and left the last position open for a 10-way race.
The spots were highly competitive, and some lawmakers are questioning why certain members like Ocasio-Cortez were selected while others were left to compete for the last open spot.
Ocasio-Cortez vied for a position on the panel in 2020, losing out in a lopsided vote to then-Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), who hailed from a more centrist wing of the party. Some Democrats had lobbied against Ocasio-Cortez’s attempts to join the panel four years ago, citing her support for liberal primary challengers to sitting lawmakers.
