When U.S. Rep. John Boehner meets with President-elect George W. Bush today 12/22 in Austin, Texas, it may signal the beginning of the West Chester Republican's return to the House leadership.

        Members of the House and Senate education committees, including Mr. Boehner, are trekking to Mr. Bush's office in the Texas capital today for a meeting on the education reform agenda that the new president promises to make a priority of his administration.

        The education summit with the president-elect comes at a time when Mr. Boehner is lining up support to become the new chairman of the House Education and Workplace Committee, a job that would give him a great deal of say about what education reforms come out of the 107th Congress.

        If he wins the chairmanship, which will be decided by the House Steering Committee and GOP House leaders, it will be a comeback from the unceremonious dumping he suffered two years ago when he lost his post as House Republican Conference chairman to Rep. J.C. Watts, R-Oklahoma.

        “John has a very good shot at getting that committee,” said U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Cincinnati. “He's got a lot of support and is well-grounded in those issues.”

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