Kline unveils anti-EFCA bill in February. Photo: house.gov

U.S. Rep. John Kline will take over the ranking Republican seat on the House Education and Labor Committee, the GOP Steering Committee decided today.

Kline was one of two or three Republicans vying for the top post, according to The Hill, which called his close ties to House Minority Leader John Boehner a key advantage.

The opening at the 50-member panel’s GOP helm was due to President Obama’s appointment of Rep. John McHugh to be secretary of the Army. McHugh’s slot as ranking member of the Armed Services Committee fell to Rep. Buck McKeon, who then vacated his post as ranking member on the Education and Labor committee.

The GOP Steering Committee passed over two more senior but less conservative Republicans on the committee to make Kline top dog.