Washington – Cantor Set to Become Majority Leader

Washington – Mr. Cantor goes to Washington on Wednesday as the first Virginia congressman to become the House majority leader, the first Jewish majority leader and one of the youngest members of Congress to hold the post.

In a day of pomp and partying, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-7th, a Henrico County resident, will officially assume his duties as the No. 2 leader in the House of Representatives.

Cantor will be joined by three new Republican lawmakers from Virginia. Robert Hurt, R-5th, Scott Rigell, R-2nd, and H. Morgan Griffith, R-9th, will be sworn in at noon to the 112th Congress.

All three defeated Democratic incumbents, changing the makeup of Virginia’s U.S. House delegation from six Democrats and five Republicans to eight Republicans and three Democrats. The new Congress will have 242 Republicans and 193 Democrats.

Cantor, elected majority leader by his Republican colleagues Nov. 17, has said he will focus on “producing results in three key areas” — cutting spending, shrinking the size of government, and removing what he calls a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the private sector.

The three congressional newcomers from Virginia will host receptions for family and supporters on Wednesday.

Cantor’s staff was busy moving to new quarters in the U.S. Capitol last week. Cantor was spending time with his family.

Cantor and the other Republican leaders, who gained a substantial majority in the Nov. 2 elections, have already laid down new ground rules for the 435 members of the House.

To increase transparency, committees will broadcast their hearings online and attendance will be recorded for each committee hearing. In a bow to the tea-party movement, which helped elect many of the new Republicans, every new bill must contain a statement by the member of Congress who introduced it that cites the constitutional authority for doing so.

The entire Constitution will be read Thursday, with many lawmakers taking turns to read it aloud.

Cantor also has decreed that the House will meet 123 days and 32 weeks this year. Congratulatory resolutions have been axed. Each morning will be devoted to committee meetings.

Cantor also has promised a five-day constituent work week at least once each month to allow representatives to go home and listen to their constituents.

The majority leader post represents a rapid rise by the 47-year-old Cantor. He first was elected to represent the 7th District in 2000. He became deputy whip in 2002 and the minority whip in 2008.