2 Pa. Dems land seats on House Ways and Means

Pennsylvania will have two Democrats on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee this session.

U.S. Reps. Dwight Evans and Brendan Boyle are among 10 new members joining that panel, the committee announced last week.

Ways and Means is the oldest committee in Congress and the chief tax-writing panel, with jurisdiction over tariffs, trade, Social Security and Medicare, among other issues.

It also has the authority to request any individual’s IRS filings, a power putting it at the center of Democratic efforts to seek President Donald Trump’s tax returns.

The appointment of Evans and Boyle, who represent Philadelphia area districts, means that Pennsylvania again will have two majority members on that panel. Last session, Republican Reps. Pat Meehan, of Delaware County, and Mike Kelly, of Erie County, were on the committee.

Evans said in a statement that he intends to use the committee post to “advance my policy ideas to tackle our 26 percent poverty rate, crumbling infrastructure, and protect and expand health care.”

At age 41, Boyle will be one of the youngest members of that panel.

“I am grateful for this committee nomination, particularly at this point relatively early in my congressional career, and I will use my new position to fight to give Pennsylvanians of every zip code a shot at the American dream,” Boyle said.