by Janet Hook
In a sign that President-elect Barack Obama's environmental agenda will receive strong support from Capitol Hill, House Democrats today voted to install Rep. Henry Waxman of Los Angeles as leader of the House committee that handles environmental legislation, ousting the auto industry's strongest ally, Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, from the job.
Waxman is an advocate of much stricter regulation to curb global warming than Dingell, who as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committe had compiled a long record of defending the auto industry against emissions rules that automakers consider too strict.
Waxman's promotion to chairman of the committee was approved 137-122 in a closed meeting of the House Democratic Caucus.
He argued that the panel needed new leadership in order to manage upcoming legislation on healthcare, energy and global warming -- all signature issues of Obama. Dingell, who is 82 and recovering from knee surgery, argued that there was no reason to upend the House's longstanding seniority system.
Comments
And Dingell's wife is a senior executive at GM...
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport ☮ | November 20, 2008 1:12 PM
HIS WIFE sits on the Exec. Committee of GM? Oh, fer cryin' out loud!! NO ONE with such an obvious conflict of interest should have been appointed to that position IN THE FIRST PLACE. It's perfectly understandable that Dingell takes exception to the fact that he's been outsted. I mean, who's gonna look out for the best interests of his wife? BAH!
Posted by: Kathy M | November 20, 2008 1:28 PM
The real meaning of this is that the Sierra Club is merging with the big3 and will be in charge of designing cars. consumers can have any color they want , as long as it is green.
Posted by: ejhickey | November 20, 2008 2:42 PM
The real meaning of this is that the Sierra Club is merging with the big3 and will be in charge of designing cars. consumers can have any color they want , as long as it is green.
Is this a bad thing?
Posted by: Jane | November 20, 2008 3:02 PM
Congratulations, Rep. Waxman. Detroit will soon be forced to comply with California's low level of emission standards. Now if Congress resists bailing out the auto industry, then perhaps Detroit will grow up and learn how to compete with Japan on quality, hybrid, and mileage.
Posted by: Eric S | November 20, 2008 3:06 PM
PRO-ENVIRONMENT?
Are you serious?
Who is ANTI-environment? That's like saying he's pro-baby seals.
You mainstream liberals kill me.
Just watch Waxman's Witch Trials chew up taxpayer dollars...for nada.
Posted by: Susan Petrarca | November 20, 2008 3:57 PM
With Waxman we won't have drilling, coal gasification or the "all of the above" approach we need for energy independence.
Posted by: Den C | November 20, 2008 4:20 PM
You mainstream liberals kill me.
Posted by: Susan Petrarca | November 20, 2008 3:57 PM
Is that "mainstream liberals" as compared to what? Conservative? Please offer proof where the republican administration for the past 8 years has done anything that resembles conservative.
Posted by: bill r. | November 20, 2008 4:28 PM
Congratulations, Rep. Waxman. Detroit will soon be forced to comply with California's low level of emission standards. Now if Congress resists bailing out the auto industry, then perhaps Detroit will grow up and learn how to compete with Japan on quality, hybrid, and mileage.
Posted by: Eric S | November 20, 2008 3:06 PM
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!
Posted by: OutdoorsGuy | November 20, 2008 5:50 PM
I think they ought to treat the auto bailout like federal financing of elections: add a check box to our 2008 tax return forms. "If you wish to donate a dollar to GM, Ford and Chrysler, check here. This will not increase your tax or decrease your refund."
I wonder how much they'd get?
Posted by: Ed | November 20, 2008 6:21 PM
"as long as it is green."
SolarWorld has just offered to buy GM's Opel unit for 1 billion Euros. They want to make the first "green" car manufacturer. david
Posted by: d. calabrese | November 20, 2008 7:13 PM
Good for Henry Waxman. Now he ought to trade in his Toyota Camry for an American car, where the quality is just as good.
Posted by: Motown Mel | November 20, 2008 7:30 PM
Waxman has never found a set of camera lights too glaring or too bright. The man is a fraud and needs a strong dose of reality.
Posted by: Roger King | November 20, 2008 8:30 PM
"Mainstream Liberals?" - I know...I'm so sorry for your loss and offer my condolences. Barack won, and it's gonna be hard, because we know, we just lived the last 8 years, but hang in there because his team will try to make your car go further on less gas, will make the air your family breathes more clean, will make major policy decisions more transparent, and (sniff) will use real nouns and verbs when he speaks with other world leaders...but I know how distressing this will be for you...
Posted by: Ben | November 20, 2008 8:41 PM
How many jobs is this guy going to cost the USA.
Posted by: The CrooksInDC | November 20, 2008 10:41 PM
Take it from this Ford owner, but John Dingell's recalcitrance is as much to blame for Detroit's current predicament as the Big Three's shortsighted executives.
Posted by: Hal Bass | November 20, 2008 10:56 PM