Photo: James Leynse/Corbis
New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey was elected ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee yesterday, making her the highest ranking woman in the committee’s history, Politico reports. One of the most important panels, its members have gone on to become Speaker of the House — including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi — and is historically so male-dominated that even the secretaries were men. Women will also lead the opposition party in the “exclusive” Rules and House Financial Services Committees, too (New York’s Louise Slaughter and California’s Maxine Waters, respectively). This trend is not mirrored in the ruling party.