Weigel

I published a profile of Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) in City Paper back in September, speculating about how the rising star would run the D.C. subcommittee given his occasional clashes with the city's liberals, and noting that he fully intended to keep the gig if the GOP won Congress. Since Tuesday, however, there's speculation that Chaffetz will get another subcommittee assignment. One reason is that Chaffetz is seen by many Republicans, including Reform and Oversight chairman Darrell Issa, as a rising star, and they might want a higher-profile job for him. Chaffetz's office confirms that a reshuffle might give him a new assignment.

"We won't know for at least a couple of weeks," said Chaffetz's spokesperson Alisia Essig.

"There is no question that Jason will be a significant leader on our Committee and will be a subcommittee chairman," said Issa's spokesman Kurt Bardella. "We’re definitely going to want his input on which subcommittee he would prefer to chair."

If Chaffetz decides not to keep the D.C. gig, Rep. Brian Bilbray is next in line for the job -- unless he, an Issa ally, is also reshuffled. So this is up in the air.