Dingell had been the ranking democrat on the House Energy and Commerce committee for 28 years. From AP-
WASHINGTON - Rep. Henry Waxman -- a liberal ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- has wrested the chairmanship of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee from veteran Rep. John Dingell when the new Congress convenes in January.Waxman is philosophically much closer to Pelosi than Dingel who was once a member of the NRA's board. Dingell who was first elected in 1955, seriously challenged due to reapportionment in 2002 but victorious, I'd think would be likely now to retire in 2010.Waxman, a California liberal and avid environmentalist and booster of health care programs, toppled Dingell Thursday on a vote of 137-122 in the Democratic Party caucus, capping a bitter fight within party ranks.
Dingell has been the top Democrat on the panel for 28 years and is an old-school supporter of the auto industry. Waxman has complained that the committee has been too slow to address environmental issues like global warming.
Betsy wrote-
I hold no particular brief for the seniority system, and think that actually it would be better if Congress were more of a meritocracy than a system based on whoever has been around the longest. But the economy could weather Dingell's continued chairmanship better than Waxman's. So I'm pulling for Dingell, but also cheered by the thought that we could see some cracks put into a system that was so critical to maintaining a southern blockade of civil rights legislation for so long in both houses of Congress.In a well run government(Talk about an oxymoron), merit would the basis for advancement. To borrow from Groucho Marx will someone go run out and find me a well run government. Whoever accepts that task I don't expect to return.
Betsy also said Waxman will be more 'green' than Dingell who was a supporter of the Auto industry.
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Tags: Henry Waxman, John Dingell
Comments (1)
That Waxman looks like he h... (Below threshold)1. Posted by bill-tb | November 20, 2008 5:50 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
That Waxman looks like he has duals sticking out his face. Dumber than a pet rock, takes over telling Americans what they should do.
1. Posted by bill-tb | November 20, 2008 5:50 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 20, 2008 17:50