Pingree Gets Armed Services

Maine's new congresswoman, Chellie Pingree, has been assigned to the Armed Services Committee, according to the list released today by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (The Dem caucus still has to formally vote on it.) Not bad, freshman! I wouldn't have thought of her for that, but you take what you're given; I do think of her as being strongly anti-Iraq War, but my Portland colleagues might know more about her aptitude for the committee.

New England's other freshman, James Hines of Connecticut, gets financial services, which is almost a given for that district, which is thick with Wall Street bankers and traders.

Peter Welch of Vermont is following his chairman, Henry Waxman, from Oversight to Energy & Commerce. Other than that, no changes for the New England contingent in the House.