Bachmann snub angers tea party leader

[pampango]

Source: Washington Post

Jenny Beth Martin, a co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots, said Wednesday that Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) should have gotten a spot on the House Ways and Means Committee from Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner (Ohio). "She's a former tax lawyer," Martin told Politico. "I think she has the background necessary to be on Ways and Means. I think it shows leadership doesn't particularly support her."

Martin also scolded Boehner for not placing tea party-recommended lawmakers atop the Energy and Commerce and Appropriations committees. Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) was tapped to lead Energy and Commerce, while Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) was given the top spot on Appropriations.

National Republican Campaign Committee chairman Rep. Pete Sessions (Tex.) defended the pick, saying, "Michele is a real star for our party. ... She has all the necessary qualities. And in the process of bringing in freshmen and other things, it just simply did not happen."

Bachmann has also been passed over for a leadership position this year. In November, she launched an ultimately failed bid for Republican conference chairman. She was defeated by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Tex.).

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/12/bachmann-snub-angers-tea-party.html