Congressman Jason Smith, who represents Missouri’s 8th Congressional district, has been appointed chair of a very powerful committee this week.
Smith will hold the gavel over the House Ways and Means committee, which is the oldest named committee in the history of Congress. It’s primary role is to oversee taxation. Congress is well known to hold the ‘power of the purse’ and the Ways and Means Committee is one of the primary ways that Congress wields that power. The committee also makes decisions on Medicare and Medicaid, among other healthcare issues.
With the amount of power that this committee holds, the chairmanship was one of the most closely watched races in the House, with Smith winning a three way bid.
