More Aggressive Democrat Gets Blessing for House Post

House Democratic leaders Monday selected a younger and more partisan lawmaker over a colleague with more seniority to become acting chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Wisconsin Rep. David R. Obey, 55, scored a decisive first-ballot victory over Iowa Rep. Neal Smith, 73, in a two-man race in the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee to replace the ailing chairman, 84-year-old Rep. William H. Natcher of Kentucky.

All 258 members of the Democratic Caucus in the House must choose between Obey and Smith on Wednesday, but the blessing of party leaders appears likely to give Obey’s campaign momentum before the decisive vote.

Natcher, hospitalized with a serious heart problem, would be able to resume his chairmanship if he recovers his health. If he does not return to the demanding appropriations post, however, the acting chairman almost certainly would take over the job on a permanent basis.

Smith, who was senior to Obey on the panel, has argued that he deserved to be named as acting chairman in line with the longstanding House tradition of rewarding length of service.

But several members of the steering and policy panel said they wanted a change in the leadership of the appropriations panel that would work more closely with the Clinton Administration and the House Democratic leaders in shaping priorities.

Some Democrats also favor Obey because he is more aggressive, and they anticipate that GOP members of the House will become more confrontational if Minority Whip Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) takes over the Republican leader’s post next year from retiring Rep. Robert H. Michel of Illinois.