Waxman defeats Dingell to win chairmanship of House Energy and Commerce Committee.
By on Nov 20th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Waxman defeats Dingell to win chairmanship of House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) will replace Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) as the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over global warming legislation. Waxman beat Dingell, currently the longest-serving member of the House, in a secret ballot vote of the Democratic caucus by 137-122. Yesterday, the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee also voted 25-22 in favor of Waxman.
The pollution industry strongly backed Dingell, who often blocked environmental reforms, and fear-mongered that Waxman’s chairmanship would be “scary.”
UpdateNBC's Andrea Mitchell reports: "Sources inside the Democratic House Caucus say the vote against outgoing Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. John Dingell turned partly along generational lines - with young turks lining up against the old - and partly because of Dingell's record on environmental issues."
UpdateThe Crypt's Ryan Grim reports that "backers of ousted chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) are now scrambling to hold on to their subcommittee chairmanships."
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31 Responses to “Waxman defeats Dingell to win chairmanship of House Energy and Commerce Committee.”
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Isn't that interesting? Waxman doesn't have to give up the chairmanship of Oversight and Gov't Reform, does he?
Maybe this is the best place for him, considering how much werk
November 20th, 2008 at 11:13 amhave to do on global climate change.
This is a big deal, as it takes a longtime 'friend of the industry' out of a control position, and elevates someone who will publicly demand accountability.
It's going to a rough road ahead for automobile industry executives, and it's about damned time!
November 20th, 2008 at 11:19 amnice work. Dingell has been a pain.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:22 amHow much work we have to do, is what I meant to type. I need coffee.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:22 amGood! I hope one of Waxman's first acts is to oust the political appointees cum career employees from the EPA.
After eight years of disgusting, illegal acts, I am appalled by what BushCo is doing in their final days!
The next congress needs to pass legislation ASAP that can overturn the obstructive acts of this exiting president and his cabal of criminals.
PEACE
November 20th, 2008 at 11:23 amExcellent news! Waxman is the "people's champion," not the auto and energy industries champion. Now is that what I call Change!
November 20th, 2008 at 11:27 amOOOhhhh, I bet all those polluters are just shaking in their shoes at the prospect of all them letters they will be getting from Waxman. After all, how many hundreds of letters did he send to BushCo?
November 20th, 2008 at 11:28 amWow. Now maybe we'll get something done without having to bend over for the auto industry.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:29 amYo Spencer's Mom:
Waxman can do this only if he wants to wind up sitting in jail with Bush and Cheney. Congress has no authority whatsoever to remove federal employees from their jobs be they Schedule C conversions to civil service or whatever. If you look back in time you'll find that Theodore Roosevelt was the one who put a stop to that process about 100 years ago.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:32 amWaxman is one of the biggest badasses in congress. This is great.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:33 am"Wow. Now maybe we’ll get something done without having to bend over for the auto industry."
Ahem...What "auto industry"? The one we're off-shoring to Singapore (or is it Shanghai), where there are no unions?
November 20th, 2008 at 11:34 amCongress has no authority whatsoever to remove federal employees from their jobs be they Schedule C conversions to civil service or whatever.
That it was illegal to vet them politically, for their ideological purity and regime loyalty in the first place, should not matter, of course...
November 20th, 2008 at 11:37 amUncle Ho,
November 20th, 2008 at 11:38 amDespite the fact that Waxman is among only a handful of Dem's to have even spoken up about the improprieties of the Bush admin. , I have to say that you took the words right out of my mouth .
I'll take Waxwing over Dingbat anyday.
OMG, the big 3 can't get a bailout & now they lose their 'inside man' in congress? The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Ummm, maybe investing some of that money in product development instead of CEO bonuses would have been a good idea...
November 20th, 2008 at 11:51 amUncle Ho,
You're point is well taken but, keep in mind; its not just about hearings and subpoens, regulations matter at least as much. If Waxman stays true to form - and there really is no reason to suspect he won't - he will be much more aggressive in promoting proper regulation.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:52 amWow, the contrast between the House Dems and the Senate Dems could not be more stark. Dingell has been execrable for decades, but Lieberman was every bit as useless as Homeland Security Committee chair. It comes down to the fact that Nancy Pelosi (who I'm no fan of) has balls and Harry Reid doesn't.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:53 amfreeman Says:
Uncle Ho,
Despite the fact that Waxman is among only a handful of Dem’s to have even spoken up about the improprieties of the Bush admin. , I have to say that you took the words right out of my mouth .
What, no post slamming Obama and the democrats about this nebulous thing we term "change?"
It seems you need to walk back some previous statements.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:54 amUncle Ho Says:
OOOhhhh, I bet all those polluters are just shaking in their shoes at the prospect of all them letters they will be getting from Waxman. After all, how many hundreds of letters did he send to BushCo?
Well,all I can say is that there's a new sheriff in town come January 20, 2009.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:56 amThe i's on this board like freeman don't have it.
nothing says I'm a failure like predicting it for the rest of us before we even begin.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:01 pmWhile we're on the topic of Waxman, ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS. Letters just don't cut it.
Until I see effective action instead of ineffective letters, I won't hold my breath.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:03 pmUncle Ho Says:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While we’re on the topic of ( blank), ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:08 pmStay tuned.....
barfly Says:
It was just a matter of time......freeman has already made up his mind and he will find fault in everything the dems do, premtivly........
November 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pmA good article by Jeremy Scahill for the people who weren't to afraid to read the LA Times article posted by TP on the think fast thread .
November 20th, 2008 at 12:20 pmhttp://www.alternet.org/audits/107666/this_is_change_20_hawks,_clintonites_and_neocons_to_watch_for_in_obama's_white_house/?page=entire
Look out don't trip over your Pom Poms .
A prediction for you nay sayers:
Now that democrats do have actual power you will see our nation reverse course on many of the things that we all agree have been going wrong for us.
It may not be 180 degree turn but it will be clearly evident.
It will also make the difference in whether you who lump the republicans in with the democrats will be able to voice your opinions and organize and create a 3rd party if you choose to do so.
I contend that if mccain had been elected that the web would have been silenced in short order......
If you think that is still a possibility then we have no common ground at all.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:26 pmyoo-hoo!!!!! Dingell isn't from Massachusetts!!!!
Should be: MI.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:32 pmSee, freeman wants the dems to fail.
Who do you think he should hire freeman....bushies or experienced democrats? The choice is yours.
You do remember the Clinton era......prosperity, trade center bombings handled as police matters and the criminals have been in prison for years. Budget surplus, debt clock running backwards, job creation the envy of the world, etc.
Stop your whining.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:32 pmThis is one guy who knows what the hell a subpoena is for and how to get one
November 20th, 2008 at 12:42 pmgummitch Says:
yoo-hoo!!!!! Dingell isn’t from Massachusetts!!!!
Should be: MI.
Which is what it says
November 20th, 2008 at 12:47 pmGreat news. Fantastic.
I can almost hear the paper shredders churning at EPA from here.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:16 pmI would be impressed if anybody ever actually enforced a subpeona. Apparently if the Senate sends you a subpeona you can just wipe your ass with it and they'll go away. That would have been handy to know during the Army/McCarthy hearings. If Waxman actually starts throwing people in prison for not showing up to testify on the date specified on the legal subpeona they were served, then I'll applaud. And if somebody (Bush did this in one instance) blocks the D.C. police from enforcing the subpeona order, send the Senate's Sergeant-at-Arms, with a gun.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:23 pmNo, bush used executive privilage......it has a very limited scope even when used badly. The people Waxman will be overseeing will not have that out.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:38 pm