Rep. Amo Houghton Jr., R-N.Y., has taken over as chairman of the House...

Rep. Amo Houghton Jr., R-N.Y., has taken over as chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee of the powerful tax-writing committee, replacing Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., who has moved over to become chairwoman of the House Human Resources subcommittee. Under Ms. Johnson's stewardship, the committee held several hearings on pension issues last year. At the same time, E. Clay Shaw Jr., R-Fla., has been appointed chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, replacing Rep. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., who was elected to the Senate. On the Democratic side, Rep. Robert T. Matsui, Calif., has become the ranking minority member on the Social Security subcommittee, replacing Rep. Barbara B. Kennelly, D-Conn., who made a failed bid for governor of Connecticut last fall.