Washington, D.C. — Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern, an Oklahoma Republican, announced Thursday (January 5) he had named U.S. Representative Ben Cline, R-Virginia, to chair the RSC’s Budget and Spending Task Force.

The panel was previously chaired by Congressman Hern, a Republican from Tulsa.

As turmoil continues over who will be the next Speaker of the U.S. the House of Representatives, Hern and the RSC members continue to prepare substantive policy documents, following up on the long-standing RSC role as the “think and action tank” for conservatives in the GOP House caucus.

The Budget and Spending Task Force produces a conservative federal budget every year. In the 116th and 117th Congresses, according to an RSC press release, “it was the only true budget offered.”

“The Budget and Spending Task Force are near and dear to my heart,” said Chairman Hern, who led the Task Force in the 117th Congress.

“The budget is the most important piece of legislation we can put together. Without a balanced budget, we will never get our country back on track. Returning to a place of fiscal responsibility isn’t going to be easy; it’s going to take hard work and a clear vision.

“Ben is a true fiscal conservative – I’m glad to have him chairing this important team and I look forward to working alongside him in the 118th Congress.”

Rep. Cline said, “I am honored to serve as the new chair of the Republican Study Committee’s Budget and Spending Task Force, and I look forward to working alongside the RSC Chair, Congressman Kevin Hern, to get our Nation back on track.

“With a new Republican majority, we have an opportunity to make this the budget that is used as a blueprint for advancing conservative principles and common-sense policies. By championing fiscal responsibility, I am confident we can take the steps necessary to restore economic prosperity to our great Nation.”

As detailed in Pat McGuigan’s Facebook report posted Friday morning, January 6:

Now the man-in-charge of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) Oklahoma Congressman Kevin Hern of Tulsa has made several substantive policy announcements this week and over the recent holidays.

In a way, he has dominated substantive policy news for conservatives in Congress, even as the Republican majority in the House has been unable to settle on a new House Speaker. Although the speaker drama has dominated news from the Capitol in recent days, Hern made news of his own by edging forward the GOP’s stated (and, for caucus members, unifying) agenda for smaller government, a stronger national defense and protection of unborn human life.

Hern, whose district is centered in Tulsa and includes some surrounding jurisdictions, has consistently supported U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California for the top job in the House, but dominating the news is that former minority leader has consistently attracted a significant enough opposition to deprive him of the “magic” number needed to assume the top job in the House.

Wednesday and Thursday, Hern’s name was being raised in press reports and a formal floor nomination for the Speaker’s job, but he has remained supportive of McCarthy.

Thursday night, he told The Frontier (just before the eighth set of votes for Speaker were cast), “If I hear my name, it’s something I’ll have to think and pray about before deciding if it’s a job I’ll run for.”

In the two late Thursday roll calls (the tenth and eleventh of the Marathon) Hern garnered seven votes for the top job. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida had 12. One member voted present in the final round, and one for former President Donald Trump.

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to resume work on the Speakership at noon on Friday.