Republican House members voted to elect two members of the incoming freshman class to leadership posts Wednesday, a move Republicans hope will help bridge the space between the established leadership team and the new members who will start in January.
South Dakota Rep.-elect Kristi Noem and South Carolina Rep.-elect Tim Scott were both given leadership slots and will serve as liaisons between party leadership and the 2011 class.
“We are committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure that the Republican majority delivers on its pledge to rein in government, cut spending, and get people back to work,” said presumed Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, and House Whip Eric Cantor in a joint statement late Tuesday evening. “The best kind of government is government close to the people, and no one is closer to the people than the members of our new freshman class.”
On their first day of orientation this week, the new members made it clear that they intended to stand their ground in the case that the leadership ever were to pressure them to stray from their conservative campaign promises.
“I think they recognize the importance of the historic precedence that this class is setting,” Noem told The Daily Caller during a break between freshman orientation meetings Wednesday. “They’re giving us an opportunity to be part of the legislative process and listen to our opinions as well.”
Members of the freshman class of Republicans will also be awarded three slots on the Republican Steering Committee, a 28-member body that designates committee positions.
As expected, all members of GOP leadership in the 111th Congress were re-elected for the next term.
Christopher Harrell contributed to this report.