Rep. Brett Guthrie wins powerful House Commerce Committee gavel

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) won the race to lead the powerful House Commerce Committee in the 119th Congress, replacing retiring Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). The panel's vast jurisdiction positions its chairman to play a lead role in crafting policy on an array of issues: everything from blocking China from engaging in U.S. telecommunication networks to influencing drug pricing. Rep. Brett Guthrie chairs the panel's Subcommittee on Health. He beat out Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH). The panel is expected to play a vital role in shaping Republicans' budget reconciliation bill, which the party intends to rely on to pass major elements of President-elect Trump's agenda.