Scalise defends male-dominated committee chairmanships

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise on Wednesday defended the GOP’s lack of women lawmakers as committee chairs in the new Congress.

“Well, as part of leadership, we have a lot of women in our leadership team,” Scalise said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” when asked about the near-total absence of women in committee top spots.


In the House, 20 men were chosen for 21 key positions — the exception was Rep. Candice Miller, who will continue to chair the House Administration Panel.

Scalise also cited Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who was re-elected chairwoman of the Republican Conference and said, “Obviously, we have a number of other women that are very talented as part of our conference leadership.”

“But if you look at this new class, especially, such a great, new, diverse group of members, with great backgrounds, too. And they’re going to come and, I think, and give us a really strong boost in the new Congress,” the lawmaker added.