Funny Line from Barton about Office Lottery

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) is in a tussle with Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) to become the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Some Republicans don't want Barton to chair the panel after he apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward last summer.

So the freshman class is currently assembled in a hearing room, undergoing the annual office lottery. The freshmen all vie for the best offices.

Barton wanders in, not aware of what's happening. I inform him that this is the office lottery. And joke with him if he wants to be chair, here's his opportunity to whip some votes from the freshman class.

"This is a target rich environment," says Barton. As a senior member, Barton has one of the most-coveted offices on Capitol Hill. It's a large office in the Rayburn Building with a view of the Capitol Dome across the street.

"I wonder if I'd offer up my office how many votes I'd get (for chairman)," Barton wondered aloud. "First floor. Capitol view."