Republican Sen. Richard Burr has been named to the powerful Senate Finance Committee.
He is the first North Carolinian to serve on the committee since Democratic Sen. Clyde Hoey in the 1950s.
“There is no aspect of our daily lives that is not touched by the laws and regulations that fall under the (Finance) committee's jurisdiction, from the tax code and our nation's trade laws to health care and retirement security,” Burr said in a statement.
“Regrettably,” Burr said, “many of these laws and regulations have become so burdensome and complex that they are choking our nation's economy, hampering job creation, and drowning our country in debt. I look forward to working with my committee colleagues to address these critical challenges which I believe are among the most important of our time."
Burr took the seat that was held by John Ensign, who resigned his Senate seat as a result of an ethics scandal. Burr beat out several senators for the post, including South Carolina Sen. Jim Dement.
In order to take the seat, Burr had to give up his seat on the Senate Energy Committee. At one time during last year's Senate campaign, there was speculation that Burr could end up as Senate Energy Committee chairman if the Republicans won the Senate, and if Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski lost her razor then re-election effort.
Other North Carolinians who have served on the Senate Finance Committee are George Badger, Josiah Bailey, Asa Biggs, John Branch, William A. Graham, Nathaniel Macon, William Mangum, Matt W. Ransom, Furnifold Simmons, and Zebulon Vance.
