Cartwright views House Democratic policy post as important, despite rejection for another

Borys Krawczeniuk, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·2 min read

Dec. 8—U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright sees his new term on a House Democratic committee as a renewed opportunity, despite failing to gain another leadership post.

Cartwright's fellow Democrats unanimously elected him Tuesday to represent Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. The panel decides Democratic policy and legislative priorities.

Cartwright, D-8, Moosic, said the steering committee meets weekly, allowing him regular access to House Democratic leaders. That access helped him get a bill to the House floor this year that aids veterans poisoned by contaminated water during training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

"So much of what ... gets passed out of the House, at least from the Democratic side, goes through top Democratic leadership," Cartwright said.

Cartwright is one of 12 members elected by region. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed him to the committee in 2016. He was automatically a member the last four years after the 2018 and 2020 elections because he served as co-chairman of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

Cartwright lost his bid for the newly created battleground leadership representative job, one only Democrats who faced tough elections in battleground districts could seek. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7, Virginia, won that job by a 33-20 vote. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, New Jersey, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5, New Jersey, supported Spanberger, despite their work with Cartwright on reviving passenger train service between Scranton and New York City.

Cartwright said their support for Spanberger won't matter, calling the election "amicable" and saying he did better than he expected.

"I'm taking that with the equanimity," Cartwright said. "To me, that was less important than steering and policy. And the real question is, why didn't I run for a higher-up position in leadership."

Cartwright didn't seek a higher leadership position, even though Pelosi, Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer and Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn stepped aside. He said he is too busy as a top member of the House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee. That position allows him to bring home funding for local police departments, district attorneys and other projects, he said.

"If you're going to do the job right on appropriations, it's a mountain of work. And I was looking for ways to make myself available for that," he said.

On the Republican side, House GOP members elected Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9, Jackson Twp., to their Republican Policy Committee. In a statement, Meuser called it "truly an honor."

"We will work on policy that strengthens America's national security and economy, and which benefits all Americans. There is much work to be done to deal with pressing problems regarding inflation, energy, and the border," Meuser said.

The new Congress begins Jan. 3. Members of Congress earn $174,000 a year.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter.