Waxman Ousts Dingell From Energy Chair In Bruising Dem Fight

WASHINGTON — Democrats steered the House toward more aggressively tackling global warming and other environmental problems Thursday, toppling veteran Michigan Rep. John Dingell, a staunch supporter of Detroit automakers, from an important energy panel in favor of California liberal Rep. Henry Waxman.

The switch could help President-elect Barack Obama on Capitol Hill with one of his favored issues: trying to curb global warming by limiting greenhouse gas emissions. But Waxman's combative stance on climate change and other issues also could alienate Republicans and moderate Democrats, making it harder to get the bipartisan support Obama will need.

Waxman is an avid environmentalist and booster of health care programs _ and a home-state ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He defeated Dingell on a 137-122 vote in the Democratic Party caucus, capping a bruising intraparty fight.

The Energy and Commerce panel is one of the most important House committees, with sweeping jurisdiction over energy, the environment, consumer protection, telecommunications and health care programs such as Medicaid and the popular State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Dingell has been the top Democrat on the panel for 28 years and is an old-school supporter of Detroit's carmakers and other big industries such as electric utilities. His bitter battles with Waxman over clean air issues date to the Reagan administration and were recently revived as Waxman complained that the committee has been too slow to address global warming.

Dingell comes from an era of autocratic committee chairmen and has had to adapt to a House in which power is consolidated around Pelosi, who has clashed with him in the past. Last year, in a move that undercut Dingell's power on the global warming issue, she created a special panel led by Massachusetts Rep. Edward Markey to make the case for bigger reductions in greenhouse gases. Pelosi did not publicly take sides in the new vote, but her support of Waxman was well known and played a role in the strong tally.

Waxman was the candidate of change in a year dominated by that theme. He likened the first years of the Obama administration to a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get things done in Washington.

"The argument we made was that we needed a change for the committee to have the leadership that will work with this administration and members in both the House and the Senate in order to get important issues passed in health care, environmental protection, in energy policy," Waxman said after the vote.

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Dingell congratulated Waxman in a statement issued after the vote, and promised to work closely with him on a smooth transition and on the issues before the committee. He said his commitment to his constituents will not change.

"That commitment to protecting and creating jobs, to providing health care for all Americans, to working to getting our state and nation's economy back on track is a fight I will continue to wage in Washington," Dingell said.

Waxman, 69, has a lengthy congressional resume of aggressive investigations and legislative action.

Dingell's reputation for putting Detroit's auto interests above all else didn't help his campaign to keep his job _ especially as automakers seeking a bailout have been taking a public relations pounding on Capitol Hill.

His defenders said he had done nothing to deserve being dumped, pointing to a long list of accomplishments and the panel's busy workload over the past two years, including successfully enacting an energy bill that would raise automobile fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

Driving Waxman's bid was the issue of global warming, a top issue for Obama. Waxman is expected to move legislation with tougher emissions standards than Dingell would have.

Environmentalists say Dingell has acted too slowly on global warming. A bill he released last month was a poke in the eye to Waxman and Pelosi, D-Calif., since it would prevent states, including California, from setting tougher auto emissions standards than the federal government.

"Waxman's victory is a breath of fresh air _ of clean air. It was a stunning defeat for the corporate lobbyists on K Street," said Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch. "It shows that a majority of the House Democrats are ready to work with the incoming Obama administration on effective global warming legislation."

Still, taking on global warming will be anything but a cakewalk. A controversial "cap and trade" mechanism in which permits are sold is tantamount to a huge tax on carbon dioxide emissions and will face resistance from coal state Democrats and moderate party members _ to say nothing of Republicans.

"This decision sends a troubling signal from a majority that has promised to govern from the center," said House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio. "They moved away from Chairman Dingell because he is committed to approaching energy and environmental issues in a manner that protects American jobs."

Bill Kovacs, a vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said Dingell brought a balanced and methodical approach to environmental policy and sought the input of the regulated industries.

It's the difference of "one trying to keep everyone in the system and one knowing exactly where they want to go and how they are going to get there," Kovacs said.

___

Associated Press writer Dina Cappiello contributed to this report.

Comments

[Mildmannered]

"Dingell just doesn't get it. The 82-year-old lawmaker has been a mettlesome roadblock on the path toward greater energy independence and solutions to climate change for years. He has consistently (and until last year, successfully) defended Detroit automakers against congressional attempts to improve fuel efficiency standards -- a stance that not only contributed to soaring oil prices but ultimately harmed the car makers themselves, because it left them unprepared for a shift in consumer taste toward smaller vehicles. He is also at the center of a vast web of K Street interests, wielding his substantial fundraising powers to buy influence among fellow members of Congress and repaying his big donors, such as the mining industry, by weakening efforts to rein in pollution and greenhouse gases."

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-waxman24-2008nov24,0,5536228.story

[urnumbersix]

I was born and raised in Detroit (Detroit, not the suburbs) and I'm very pleased that Waxman won the Chair. Yes, I'm concerned about the jobs and retirees, but that worry is decades old - not something that has developed in the last 30 days. What Has changed recently is the jig-is-up for the auto industry in every way. I'm in Washington DC now and have witnessed Congress, led by Dingell, repeatedly coddle the American-based auto industry management while slowly starving the workers. When they are in a bind management hides behind its workers and threatens to hold its breath until it turns blue. (It's a joke that never was funny, but has run on WAY too long.)

Well, big-3, too few people now care it you "pass out." It's time to quit the breath-holding, the whining and the posturing -- and get real. Your friends are gone. If you insist on playing the usual game - you will lose! Put a revolutionary plan on the table that establishes a new vision and a new economy. If your visit here this week (in private jets, no less) didn't give you the message, perhaps the election of Waxman to E&C Committee will. Get with the "new" program - or die!

Congress and the Obama Administration should move on, with or without the big 3. If they won't change, someone else will step in who "gets it!"

[skaterdon66]

Let'em sink or swim...bailout money comes from ALL taxpayers...not just the rich that the Dems hate..

[Tommygun2146]

Let the Dingell berries whine - the man's loyalty has been to the automakers and his record proves that. Waxman has the courage of his convictions and I am confident that he will do what's right.

[1differentdrummer]

I hang on Boehner's every word. He's a modern day prophet, or something.

[NWBrunette]

From the article, Waxman said "The argument we made was that we needed a change for the committee to have the leadership that will work with this administration and members in both the House and the Senate in order to get important issues passed."

Interesting how that argument, which was made time and again, was completely ignored when it came to Homeland Security.

[andhakari]

Really, what was that all about? Still, it's amazing that Dingel could get as many votes as he did if these guys are serious about global warming.

[paulacvdw]

I'm happy that Waxman is now the Chair. We've been waiting too long....

[preemptivelove]

35 mpg by 2020???? what a joke. my vw gti got 37 mpg in 1987.

[AllenD]

If we bail out Detroit, the mileage standard of 35 mpg should be moved up to 2015, then 45 mpg by 2020 and 55 mpg by 2025.

[thegaygardener]

Henry Waxman is a hero! He is my Congressman & I'm actually getting tired of writing thank you notes to him. He cares about the little guy. He knows he represents the people & always has his eye on the big guys who are out to screw us. He is not in Congress to get rich

If anyone can take on the big companies & held them accountable its Henry Waxman!
This news is good for all Americans

[jerrypl]

Henry Waxman is da man! He is a true friend of America. He is dedicated and true to his values. He should be attny general, or secretary of state or senate majority leader.

http://eye-on-washington.blogspot.com

[andyg]

So delaying the red line was for america.

[weatherwaxx]

"Bruising?"

Come on, people -- this is Congress we're talking about, not the WWF. Waxman is as likely to give another congressman a shiner as I am to give George Bush a standing ovation.

[userw014]

Although I have no sympathy for the automobile makers, I do have some for Michigan, my home state (it's where my kids go to school!)

Perhaps Michigan can stop drinking the Automobile Cool-Aid now. Perhaps. We've been addicted to it for a long, long time and Dingell has been holding the stirring stick.

I hope that Congress can come up with something to help Michigan out. We're a purple state, after all, and although we've favored Democrats for some time, if the Industrial part of Michigan packs their households up in their SUVs and heads south and west, there won't be much left but the Republic agricultural areas.

If only Michigan had the sense to really wean itself from the auto industry years ago, but the only time it seemed urgent was when the industry was failing. When times were good (relatively .. for Michigan anyway), the Automobile Industry was able to scare away diversification.

I've heard people from Michigan cry out that the Congress-critters who won't support the bailout don't understand the automobile industry somehow. As if knowing how many different models of cars the Big Three produce matters to most of the people of the US (who appreciate what the Toyota, Honda, and VW have to offer). Or that the ability of industry during WW-II to retool from simple automobiles to simple war materiel matters to Today's Army.

[preemptivelove]

""This decision sends a troubling signal from a majority that has promised to govern from the center," said House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio. "They moved away from Chairman Dingell because he is committed to approaching energy and environmental issues in a manner that protects American jobs.""

This is the typical republican faulty logic and false dichotomies. First, there was never a "promise to govern from the center". That is a republican talking point in response to the mandate that obama won loud and clear. Second, the notion that jobs only come from an old economy that looks at polluting industries as the only way for economic growth has already been proven WRONG and a losing strategy, both for republicans and this country. obama and waxman plan on creating jobs by building new industries that take care of this planet and provides cutting edge technological jobs.

Just to stick out my tongue a bit.......it's pretty funny watching the right whine now about governing from the center. for the last 8 years the republican party has terrorized this country with its sociopathic policies that put country last, americans last, the environment last. democrats were frozen out of meetings, committees and hearings, virtually neutered by the right. hey bhoener, the payback is a bitch isn't it?

[paixa3]

In my view Waxman held many investigations, but came out with nearly or absolutely zero results. So, does that mean zero results in the areas that we need HUMONGOUS results in the next congress?

I will not wait too long for an answer.

[weatherwaxx]

He won't have the President and Atty. General stonewalling and ignoring Congressional procedures.

[Bitsko]

Excellent choice.

[thecanadian]

Congrats Mr. Waxman. Here is one that should be really watched over next couple months.
Bush team illegally changing endangered species rules.
http://www.propublica.org/article/california-attorney-general-demands-that-bush-halt-endangered-species-rule-/
"This isn't the first time the Bush administration has come under fire for its approach to endangered species. Last year, the Interior Department's inspector general found that former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald was "editing, commenting on, and reshaping" (PDF) scientific reports on endangered species, despite the fact that she is not a scientist."