Chris Smith (R-NJ), a supporter of higher funding for Veterans' programs, was ousted as chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee by the GOP Steering Committee. Now, the chairmanship goes to conservative Steve Buyer (R-IN). While Smith is certainly not my favority congressman due to his extreme positions on abortion, he is generally an ally of veterans. Veterans' groups across the country rallied to keep Smith but the GOP cared more about putting a party loyalist in as chair than in helping veterans.
Here's a link to the AP story:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=1278&e=2&u=/ap/20050106/ap_
on_go_co/veterans_chairman