In the end, they both lost: Harold Rogers, a 72-year-old Kentuckian who has served on the committee since 1983, will head it come January.

ECONOMIST: The House Appropriations Committee

"We'll do what we have to do, but we have a pretty hefty amount of money in the disaster relief fund, " said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky.

WSJ: No new funds needed for Okla. tornado recovery