Powerful Tax-Writing Panels to Lose Experience After Midterms

High-profile retirements and competitive elections among senior tax writers will likely give the House Ways and Means Committee a new look next Congress.

Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), and David Schweikert (R-Ariz.)—all longtime members of the powerful panel that drives major legislation on taxes, trade, and health care—will be departing, meaning the loss of decades of experience.

If Democrats retake the House in November’s elections, as they hope, they could add about 10 new members, since the current makeup of 19 Democrats and 26 Republicans would flip.

“They will be sorely missed,” Rep. Judy Chu ...