Who could move up

If the Democrats retake control of the House of Representatives next Tuesday, several members of Massachusetts' 10-person delegation will be in line for powerful committee and subcommittee chairmanships.

District 1, Amherst

Olver would become one of only 10 "cardinals," or subcommittee chairs, on the Appropriations Committee, which decides how much money federal programs get. Heading the subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury and Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary and the District of Columbia. Olver would be one of only 10 "cardinals" on Appropriations, which decides how much money federal programs get.

District 2, Springfield

Because of his seniority, Neal would be given a subcommittee chairmanship on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which writes tax policy.

District 3, Worcester

McGovern would be second in line on the Rules Committee, one of the most powerful panels in the House. The Rules Committee is heavily weighted in favor of the majority party, and determines which bills and amendments may go to the floor.

District 4, Newton

Frank would become chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, making him the only full committee chairman in the delegation. The committee handles housing policy as well as banking issues. Frank's position on the committee authorizing housing programs, combined with Olver's chairmanship of the subcommittee handling housing appropriations, has huge implications for housing in Massachusetts.

District 5, Lowell

Meehan would be sixth-ranking on the Armed Services Committee, which handles such matters as military policy as well as troop support, and is in line to head the subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities.

District 6, Salem

Tierney is one of two Massachusetts members on the influential Steering and Policy Committee, which determines committee chairmanships and the party's agenda on the House floor.

District 7, Malden

Markey, the delegation's most senior House member, would be third in line on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, and would be in line to chair the subcommittee on telecommunications.

District 8, Somerville

Capuano is a member of the Steering and Policy Committee, which decides committee assignments and the Democratic agenda. He is also head of a special committee assigned to review Democratic caucus rules, including the role seniority on committees.

District 9, South Boston

Lynch is in line to become chairman of the Government Reform subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs.

District 10, Quincy

Delahunt would be in line to take a subcommittee chairman on the House International Relations Committee -- either the subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, or the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, where he currently battles the Bush administration's policies isolating Cuba.