Waxman plans to wrest control of Energy and Commerce Committee from Dingell.
By on Nov 5th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Waxman plans to wrest control of Energy and Commerce Committee from Dingell.
House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) “is calling senior Democrats to seek the top spot” on the influential Energy and Commerce Committee, which currently belongs to Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). Roll Call reports, “The move marks a major showdown between two Democratic powerhouses, with implications for a host of major legislation next year from health care to global warming to renewable energy.” Brad Johnson compares and contrasts Waxman and Dingell’s record on global warming.
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Oh good! Just what we need right now – a pissing contast within the Democratic majority.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:46 pmThrow a little chum in the water and watch the feeding frenzy begin.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:47 pmWhy is he doing it?
November 5th, 2008 at 1:48 pmThat seems fairly ridiculous.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:55 pmI’m a little confused. Dingell, as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has stated that he wants to investigate the Bush Administration’s handling of port security, the Medicare prescription drug program and Dick Cheney’s energy task force. Dingell told Time magazine that he intends to oversee legislation that addresses global warming and climate change caused by carbon emissions from automobiles, energy companies and industry. He has a long history of supporting progressive issues. Any insight as to why Waxman wants to wrest control of this Dept. from Dingell?
November 5th, 2008 at 1:59 pmThis is actually what we want. We don’t want lockstep marching. We want debate. We want, dare I say it, mavericky-ness, and from the sound of some of it, Dingell could be replaced on that committee with someone a little more green-friendly.
Also, just because Waxman and Dingell duke it out over this does not mean that either one of them loses their seat in Congress. We still have a majority, it’s ok, really.
Last point, if Dingell or Waxman is the type of person to vote against their own party due to a grudge held over this dispute then we don’t want that person in Congress anyway.
Not just MORE, but BETTER Democrats as well, that is the battle cry for Congress in my mind.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:00 pmA caveat:
I am no expert, all that above is just two cents and nothing more.
If anyone can elaborate/prove me wrong I welcome it.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pmIf you didn’t do the job then, your not going to do the job now….Time for a change !!! House cleaning begins within and works it’s way outside.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pmHenry, what about LIEberman?
Nancy wanted to drain the swamp.
I would submit we need a plunger, (where’s Joe when you need him?), as we have a lot of NeoCons in Dem clothing circling the drain.
Come to think of it, Henry, how about promoting Dennis Kucinich into a committee chairship? He’s certainly earned it. In fact, he could replace Nancy, as far as I’m concerned.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pmZimzone Says:
Come to think of it, Henry, how about promoting Dennis Kucinich into a committee chairship? He’s certainly earned it. In fact, he could replace Nancy, as far as I’m concerned.
HELL YES. Truer words were never spoken! Kucinich as SOTH would be AMAZING! Sh!t would actually get done, the Bush Administration would find itself investigated…deeply…throughly…with a BUTTload of discomfort…
Thanks, ZZ, now I’m sad because I KNOW it’s a pipe dream…oh well.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:07 pmI have posted a suggestion for Pres. Obama’s appointee to the position of Secretary of Energy over on my blog, The Well-Armed Lamb today.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pmZimzone Says:
Come to think of it, Henry, how about promoting Dennis Kucinich into a committee chairship? He’s certainly earned it. In fact, he could replace Nancy, as far as I’m concerned.
HELL. YES. Truer words were never spoken! Kucinich as SOTH would be AMAZING! Sh!t would actually get done, the Bush Administration would find itself investigated…deeply…throughly…with a BUTTload of discomfort…
Thanks, ZZ, now I’m sad because I KNOW it’s a pipe dream…oh well.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pmoops, double post there…with a phantom period…interesting.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pmstewarjt Says: Why is he doing it?
November 5th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Because Dingell is a tool of the Auto Industry. You know, the companies now trying to get their own bail-out from the feds…
November 5th, 2008 at 2:10 pmThis is shameful..Dingell’s been one of the biggest supporters of progressive causes in the Rust Belt for over half a century. Sure, he’s in tight with the auto industry; he represents Detroit and some of its outlying suburbs. A large number of his constituents are\were employed by the auto industry, he’s doing the best for his district.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:22 pmFirst things first:
Before Waxman makes his play, I just wish he and Pelosi would DO WHAT WE SENT THEM TO D.C. TO DO LAST ELECTION–and NOT write harshly-worded letters.
They have failed. I have much less faith in them than I do in Obama, and I’m skeptical of HIM, too.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:27 pmThere are egos and there are egos. Both of these guys have done a lot of good over the years reigning in the rule- and law- breakers, but a battle between the two is not good for the Party . . . and let me tell you from personal experience, you don’t want to get in the way of their staffs/investigators. There are egos and there are bigger egos. Somebody is going to pay for the past 8 years and the leader of this committee is the force that can start to bring that about . . . so get it together Henry and John . . . and staffs . . . and work it out and show future and current College Republicans you can’t step on the Constitution and avoid the long reach of the law.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:36 pmWhat the? Maybe Waxman’s tired of having to chair all of those investigations that don’t seem to be going anywhere?
November 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pmliberal traitor Says:
This is actually what we want. We don’t want lockstep marching. We want debate. We want, dare I say it, mavericky-ness, and from the sound of some of it, Dingell could be replaced on that committee with someone a little more green-friendly.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
________
That’s fine – I’m all for debate… on the issues. Not on who gets to chair which committee cause they’re more progressiver than someone else.
November 5th, 2008 at 5:09 pmDingell’s a good man but too tight with the auto industry. Here is a quote from a NYT story on Dingell: “He helped win a bailout for Chrysler in 1979, and he has fought nearly every regulation you can imagine, be it on air bags, tailpipe emissions or gas mileage.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/business/05leonhardt.html
Dingell is late to the party on environmental issues. A man like this is not optimal as an agent of change. Dingell is a follower on environmental issues, not a leader! Waxman has a long history of taking on industry. I’m for Waxman and tired of the bull$hit seniority system that has determine committee chairmen in Congress.
November 5th, 2008 at 6:17 pmWhy is it never referenced that John Dingell’s wife is an heiress to both the General Motors and Texaco fortunes?
November 6th, 2008 at 1:01 am