WASHINGTON -- House Agriculture Committee ranking member Bob Goodlatte is bumping up against the House Republican Conference's rule that ranking members should serve only six years in leadership positions, but it's unclear whether he wants the conference to let him.
Goodlatte served four years as chairman and the last two years as ranking member.
If Goodlatte gives up the post, Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., is next in line.
A Goodlatte spokeswoman acknowledged that he was bumping up the rule but declined to say whether Goodlatte wanted to stay in the position. "The decision is in the hands of the hands of the Republican Steering Committee," the spokeswoman said.
Another Goodlatte aide said the committee is not expected to take any action until December. Lucas has indicated he is interested in taking over.
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"Mr. Goodlatte has been an excellent chairman and ranking member of the House Committee on Agriculture, leading the committee through many important pieces of legislation, including the 2008 farm bill," Lucas wrote in an e-mail. "However, if the Republican Conference rules limit his terms as ranking member, I would be honored to serve as the committee's Republican leader. Whatever my role may be on the committee, I will continue to be a strong voice for production agriculture and work to ensure that farmers have the necessary resources to not only survive, but to thrive."
