Rep. Rob Portman (Ohio), chairman of the GOP leadership, has named Rob Lehman as his his chief of staff.

Lehman previously served as Rep. Larry Combest’s (R-Texas) top aide. Portman’s former chief of staff, Bob Schellhas, has accepted a new position as a top lobbyist for the American Council of Life Insurers.

Meanwhile, Education and the Workforce Chairman John Boehner (R-Ohio) promoted Mike Sommers to be his top adviser following the departure of Joyce Gates, who served as the Ohioan’s chief of staff since March 2001. Sommers has spent six years as a Boehner aide, most recently as legislative director.

And finally, the House Budget Committee has hired Sean Spicer as its new communications director. Spicer spent the past two years at the National Republican Congressional Committee as Director of Incumbent Retention. Spicer has previously served as communications director for the Government Reform Committee and Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.).

Printing Pair. Public Printer Bruce James has named George Taylor as second in command at the Government Printing Office.

Taylor, who most recently served as senior vice president for operations at the Thomson Corp., is now the deputy public printer.

James will be sworn in as the 24th public printer and head of the printing office at a ceremony Thursday.

Street Cleaning Suspended. The D.C. Department of Public Works will suspend its street-cleaning operations beginning today.

During the 10-week hiatus, which ends March 17, “No Parking/Street Cleaning” restrictions along street-cleaning routes will be lifted, and drivers will not be required to move their vehicles on posted street-cleaning days.

DPW suspends its street-cleaning schedule during the coldest months of each year for safety reasons. The street sweepers cover the ground with a thin layer of water, which could freeze into ice in colder temperatures, creating hazardous driving conditions and hampering snow removal.

Pontificating on Politics. Laszlo & Associates Inc. will host a panel discussion on “Lessons from 2002 — Political Predictions for the Future” today in Room 1539 of the Longworth House Office Building. The discussion will consist of a morning session from 11 a.m. to noon, which will feature prominent political journalists such as Eleanor Clift and Clarence Page and an afternoon session from noon to 1 p.m. with high-profile political consultants including Democratic strategist Stan Greenberg. The event, moderated by Laszlo President Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, is free, but reservations are required.

— Susan Crabtree, Jennifer Yachnin and Bree Hocking