Perhaps presaging a year in which revolts by rank-and-file members will be less tolerated, Republican leaders on Monday removed members with obstinate voting patterns from key committees.
Most notably, Representative Tim Huelskamp, Republican of Kansas, one of the most conservative members of the House, was removed from the budget committee as well as the agriculture committee. Joining Mr.Huelskamp, a second-term representative, on the budget committee bye-bye list was Representative Justin Amash of Michigan.
Both members have a history of voting against party leaders on bills, both in committee and on the floor, and it seemed Speaker John A. Boehner and the committee chairmen had had enough. Mr. Huelskamp and Mr. Amash both rejected the so-called Ryan budget, proposed by Representati ve Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, because its cuts were not deep enough.
Other members also felt some heat. Representative David Schweikert of Arizona, who bested Representative Ben Quayle in a member-on-member election fight this year, was removed from the financial services committee, as was Representative Walter B. Jones of North Carolina.
While voting against leadership too often appeared to be the biggest factor, various factors can lead to committee changes. However, the changes are generally done at the request of, or at least with the acquiescence of committee chairmen. Mr. Ryan is in charge of the budget committee; the incoming financial services committee chairman is Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas, who is leaving his post as Republican Conference chairman.
A spokesman for Mr. Amash said he had not yet learned of his new committee assignments.
