Will Dodd Go or Stay as Banking Chairman?

Damian Paletta and Corey Boles report on Congress and the financial crisis. There’s tremendous buzz on Capitol Hill today about a news conference Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd scheduled for 2 p.m. The Connecticut Democrat’s personal office (not the Senate Banking Committee) issued a statement Wednesday saying he would hold a press conference to “discuss his priorities for the 111th Congress.” The release noted that in addition to leading the banking panel he is a senior member of both the Foreign Relations Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. A lot of Capitol Hill aides figure Dodd might make a play for the gavel in the Foreign Relations Committee, now that Sen. Joe Biden , the vice-president-elect, is leaving. If Dodd passes on the Foreign Relations chairmanship, it would fall to Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. If Dodd leaves the Banking Committee, Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota, is the second-highest Democrat. Johnson, ... (link)