Minnesota Congressman Will Be Top Republican on House Education Committee

Washington — Rep. John Kline of Minnesota has won a contest to replace Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon of California as the top Republican on the House education committee.

Mr. McKeon, a strong supporter of the guaranteed-student-loan program, stepped down from the committee last week to become the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. His departure came at a time when the education committee was preparing to take up legislation to overhaul the student-loan programs.

Rep. George Miller of California, the panel’s chairman, congratulated Mr. Kline in a news release, saying he looked forward to continuing the committee’s “proud tradition of working together in a bipartisan way.”

Mr. Kline, who has not been particularly active on higher-education issues, was considered a front-runner for the post after several more-senior Republicans on the committee said they would forgo the contest. He beat out Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington State and Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina in a vote today before the Republican Steering Committee. —Kelly Field