Washington ? Sen. Kit Bond, of Missouri, was named vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday after fellow Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, of Kansas, announced he was leaving the panel.

Roberts chaired the committee for the past four years, during a time of bitter public squabbling with Democrats about its investigation into prewar intelligence on Iraq. Had he stayed on, Roberts would have become vice chairman of the panel in January after Democrats take control of the Senate.

Instead, Roberts is gaining a seat on the Senate Finance Committee, which he said would allow him to work on issues “important to the daily lives and pocketbooks” of his constituents.”

Roberts spent 10 years on the Intelligence Committee. The normal expiration date for serving is eight years, but he was able to serve an extra two years.

Kansas has not had a seat on the Finance Committee since Bob Dole left the Senate more than 10 years ago. The panel is responsible for tax legislation and bills affecting trade, Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs.