Campus Notebook: Home Free By Emily Yehle Roll Call Staff - March 3, 2010

Rep. Todd Platts (R-Pa.) doesn’t think he’ll get the top position at the Government Accountability Office, according to a recent interview with the York Dispatch.

Platts has long been rumored to be on the list that Congress will eventually send to the White House, at which point President Barack Obama will nominate his choice for comptroller general. But Platts told the Dispatch that insiders have told him a Republican will never be nominated to the position. “Given the extremely partisan environment in Washington and the fact this is an appointment for 15 years to a wholly independent watchdog position, as a Republican there is no chance of me receiving that appointment,” he said.

A Congressional panel is choosing whom to recommend for the post, which has been vacant since former Comptroller General David Walker left for the private sector in 2008. Gene Dodaro, who is also vying for the permanent position, is running the agency as acting comptroller general.

Platts’ run for the GAO position has opened up the possibility of his reliably Republican seat being open for the first time since 2000. But in his newspaper interview, Platts said he plans to continue focusing on his re-election campaign — even as he keeps his name in the running for the comptroller general slot.