Rep. Christopher Smith (R-New Jersey) was removed from his position as chairman of the Veteran's Affairs Committee yesterday when the GOP leadership voted him out.

Smith had angered the leadership by frequently attempting to increase spending for veteran's, winning him friends in the veteran community but ultimately costing him his position.

Rep. Steve Buyer will replace Smith in the top spot, after winning a vote among the full Republican Conference. Buyer is expected to be more partisan than Smith, who frequently employed Democratic support to enact funding increases he sought.