Key Democrat on Funding Issues Announces 2020 Retirement

U.S Representative Nina Lowey (D-NY), the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that she would not seek re-election in 2020 – a fact that is sure to cause a leadership shuffle among Democratic House members. The Appropriations Committee is a highly important committee that decides how much money Congress will give to federal programs – including Medicaid, which funds the majority of disability supports in the United States.

As reported by Politico Pro:

“House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey’s decision to retire in 2020 will free up the top perch on the committee that’s in charge of more than $1.3 trillion in federal spending and end the tenure of the first woman in history to head up the powerful panel.

The New York Democrat’s announcement Thursday kicks off speculation about who will bid to be her successor. But the committee’s next top Democrat probably won’t be clear until late next year.

Lowey’s replacement is most likely to be one of the panel’s most senior Democrats and possibly another woman. Potential candidates include Reps. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Pete Visclosky of Indiana, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, David Price of North Carolina and Sanford Bishop of Georgia.”