Valadao gets plum assignment

Congressman-elect David Valadao will be seated in January on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, marking the latest milestone in his rapid rise to political prominence. "It gives me a lot of opportunities to make a difference for my constituents," said Valadao. "I’m really looking forward to that." Valadao, a Hanford dairy farmer whose single term in the state Assembly term officially ended Monday with the swearing in of new legislators, is one of only two freshman Republican representatives named to the committee out of six new members approved. The other freshman is Congressman-elect David Joyce, R-Ohio. It’s unusual for freshmen to get appointed to such a powerful committee. It often happens because they come from precarious districts that their party wants to retain.  Read More