Mikulski to Chair Senate Appropriations; First Woman to Head Spending Committee

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) said Dec. 19 that she expects to take over the helm of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee in the 113th Congress.

Mikulski, a longtime member of the committee, said the path has been cleared for her to assume the job left open after the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii).

The elevation of Mikulski to the top slot on the committee was expected after Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), next in line to chair the panel, announced Dec. 19 that he had decided to remain chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the next Congress. Sen. Tom Harkin ...