House Panel Backs Waxman Over Dingell As Energy Chair
EmailABC News’ Jonathan Karl Reports: ABC News has learned that House Democratic leaders have voted to strip Representative John Dingell of his chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce committee, replacing him with Henry Waxman.
In a stinging rebuke, the House Steering committee voted 25-22 by secret ballot during a closed-door Democratic leadership meeting.
The move was a dramatic one for House Democrats — considered a victory for House liberals and environmentalists, a big defeat for Michigan and the auto industry.
Dingell has been in Congress for 53 years, making him the longest currently serving member of the House and the second longest serving in history.
The vote now moves to the whole House Democratic caucus who will vote Thursday morning. Given Dingell’s role as a political mover in the House, despite his loss at the Steering Committee today, he could still pull off a victory tomorrow.
Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
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it’s our Greatest Leader’s revenge time for supporting his opponents in the primaries.
Posted by: fat cat | November 19, 2008, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
How is it that the Dems can vote in secrecy when they are posing to pass a rule not allowing union members to vote secretly ?
What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander.
Posted by: John | November 19, 2008, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
If that was true fat cat, Lieberman wouldn’t still chair the Homeland Security Committee.
Don’t be making up lies again, didn’t we had enough of that from the GOP the last 8 years.
Posted by: JR | November 19, 2008, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
The only hope for the average American citizen is for this nation to go insolvent, break apart, and then individual territories can go to their own energy policies.
Waxman is an evil man. He loathes working folks and any business leader. Waxman hates his fellow American who work and pay taxes yet Waxman will talk with terrorist groups who have killed American citizens.
The quicker America dies the better off the typical American citizen will be. Waxman is evil and hates the normal working taxpayer.
Posted by: Reagan | November 19, 2008, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
If this report is true, it is an incredible victory for climate change solutions. I am on the verge of euphoric.
Posted by: Adam | November 19, 2008, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
Reagan,
And I’m sure you would also consider yourself a bigger patriot than Waxman too, though you hate this country enough to call for its dissolution.
It’s called democracy. If his ideas are so terrible, beat him (or the Democrats) in an election. Republicans lost, Democrats won and now the new government will pass the legislation they campaigned on. If that means removing an old rep who has put the parochial interests of his district over the interests of his country in order to pass climate change legislation, than so be it.
Posted by: Seymour | November 19, 2008, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
If that was true fat cat, Lieberman wouldn’t still chair the Homeland Security Committee.
Posted by: JR
=====
“Pull up your pants, brother”, according to our Greatest Leader. Perhaps, Lieverman did not drop ‘em.
Posted by: fat cat | November 19, 2008, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
Waxman,
Yeah I remember him….He was the one who was wasting the country’s times & money with a hearing on Roger Clemens right?
HIP HIP HOORAY! Another incredibly stupid move by the Democrats!
Posted by: Mike_C | November 19, 2008, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
Up to your neck in manure and they throw it at your face!
To me this contest is like the pre-World War II conflict between National Socialists and Communists.
Here, the Communists won.
Posted by: David S. Levine | November 19, 2008, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
“If this report is true, it is an incredible victory for climate change solutions. I am on the verge of euphoric.”
—————————————
Adam,
Be careful of that tingliong feeling in your leg….lol
Yes, I can just see it now, Waxman’s commitee spens the next 4 yrs and God knows how much money holding hearing on “Global Warmimg”. 5,000 scientists who can “prove” we are destroying the planet and 5,000 more who say ita all bunk. Cant wait for that one!
Posted by: Mike_C | November 19, 2008, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
It is time for Dingell to retire. After 53 years, what has he brought to MI? We all know that his wife Debbie is eying his seat, but it is time for all those congressmen who have really done nothing, but supported unions, ignoring future challenges, not thinking of future generations and now trying to pass the buck to us taxpayers – it is time for all of them to go. We need new blood and ideas to survive, and year after year of supporting the same old, same old, cannot be the way this time.
Posted by: Karen | November 19, 2008, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm
If this report is true, it is an incredible victory for climate change solutions. I am on the verge of euphoric.
Posted by: Adam
—————-
More like on the verge of poor. People like you are naive to the real agenda of the “climate change” legislation aka give free technology to developing countries like China meanwhile allowing developing countries hundreds of billions of dollars in free carbon credits. I love how the same liberals who freak out about outsourcing to China are clueless about or agree with giving free technology and hundreds of billions of dollars to China.
Maybe I’ll believe CO2 limitation is needed when they come out with REAL science not crackhead junk science like the IPCC is now. If you used the modeling techniques they use for climate change in a college project you would fail and they would tell you to rework the models.
It’s funny how the media acts dumb to these decisions. Democrats are putting the most liberal partisan in charge of all the committees. Yet they are the knights in shining armor according to the media. Waxman is a left wing party hack stooge.
Obama will try to play the “nice guy” meanwhile depending on all the partisans to play attack dog. It is pretty obvious after the 2008 election the media has dumbed down a lot of people who can no longer think for themselves so they likely won’t even see through the thinnest of facades.
Posted by: Cryos | November 19, 2008, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
Thank you John Dingell. Should Waxman and these uber liberal radicals succeed, an experienced and meaningful voice will be muted, a key committee staff will be replaced and the 111th Congress will take decided shift to the left in important legislative areas.
John has served the nation and the Democratic party well. In fact very few other elected representatives have been so progressive, farsighted and effective. Not only has his voice of moderation and wise counsel been widely sought after and valued, his legislative skills are unparalleled. The country need Johns Dingell’s steady hand in that presiding chair
Posted by: VHDOA | November 19, 2008, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm
i can;t believe i am writing this – we have 2 yrs of hell to go thru before we can split govt up again and have the republicans control at least one body of congress if not both
arghhhh – here we go again with one party rule, first the republicans now the democrats do we never learn our lesson?
Posted by: sokadija | November 19, 2008, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
Dingle has fought hard against requiring auto makers to produce more fuel efficient vehicles. If thirty years ago, when fuel became a big problem, he had begun to move Detroit in that direction, they wouldn’t be in the trouble they’re in now. Fighting to SAVE gas hogs wasn’t smart then and it isn’t smart now. For decades auto makers and oil companies have bought and buried new innovations that might have saved us from the present troubles. This needs to be addressed and Dingle hasn’t been doing it. And I’m from Michigan.
Posted by: karela | November 19, 2008, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
Awesomeness!
Waxman looks like a vampire bat…but he’s perfect for the job!
Viva progressives!
Posted by: maxx | November 19, 2008, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
Hater I’m not. That stated, I despise the way certain democrats have abused their power. I’m referring to Dingell, of course, but also Charles Rangel & Barney Frank. These pork loving, partisans deserve to be shut out of the Obama agenda. But Dingell. The man’s got to go.
Posted by: stephenomist | November 19, 2008, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm
To;Karela—when you say fought hard…do you mean they actuality duked it out… or do you mean they talked with each other over drinks?
Posted by: orangecat | November 19, 2008, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
I love seeing the Democrats in circular firing squad mode. On the merits, I’m for Dingell based on his knowledge, experience, and ability to work with both sides. However, politically, a Waxman victory would mean the congressional Democrats will go hard left. While the American people voted Democrat, I don’t think they signed on for a European model of command-and-control governance. The question for the Democrats is do they want to do something (go with Dingell) or just make a statement (vote for Waxman)?
Posted by: Wabash Cannonball | November 20, 2008, 12:56 am 12:56 am
SELF-DESTROYING U.S. TRADE POLICIES HAMSTRINGED DETROIT. THEY HAVE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB. WHERE WAS CONGRESS ALL THESE YEARS WHEN JAPAN WAS TOTALLY LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR INDUSTRIES? IF THE BIG 3 AND ALL THEIR SUPPLIERS GO DOWN WE MIGHT NOT HAVE A COUNTRY. I AM AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE AN INDUSTRIAL BASE OR WE COULD BE TAKEN OVER BY A STRONGER POWER. PEOPLE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT DETROIT. I JUST SAW A LONG-TIME AUTO EXPERT AND HE AGREED THE NONSENSE BEING SPOUTED ABOUT DETROIT THE LAST FEW DAYS IS UNBELEIVABLE!
NOW MOST OF OUR MANUFACTURING IS DONE IN CHINA WITH CHILD AND VIRTUAL SLAVE LABOR. THEY HAVE NO ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AT ALL SO ALL THAT POLLUTION IS NOW WAFTING OUR WAY.
OBAMA IS GOING TO SIT DOWN WITH THE BIG 3 AND THEIR SUPPLIERS AND WORK SOMETHING OUT. BUILD GREEN CARS HERE, SUPPORT OUR VALIENT AUTOWORKERS. WIN/WIN.
Posted by: KATHY | November 20, 2008, 2:01 am 2:01 am
Waxman,
Yeah I remember him….He was the one who was wasting the country’s times & money with a hearing on Roger Clemens right?
HIP HIP HOORAY! Another incredibly stupid move by the Democrats!
Posted by: Mike_C | Nov 19, 2008 3:36:06 PM _________________________________
As oppossed to wasting years of time and millions and millions of dollars on a BJ………… but we didn’t here you’re hypocritic rearend complaining about that… and if I remember correctly wasn’t it a Republican named Specter who started all the flap about football cheating? Hmmmmm I guess you conveniently forgot that too…… there is plenty of blame to go around regarding wasting time and money in Washington.
Posted by: dk | November 20, 2008, 4:24 am 4:24 am
Waxman looks like a mix between Pee Wee Herman and a freaking horror movie..
Posted by: Mark | November 20, 2008, 7:10 am 7:10 am
Waxman and Dingell? are we talking Harry Potter here?
Posted by: Mark | November 20, 2008, 7:18 am 7:18 am
dk,
Specter was an @ss! He was an eagles fan caught up inthe Patriots “spygate” video taping BS.
There were no committes or wasted hearings on that….Get your head out of the sand and get your facts straight!
By the way, I do consider it a bit more important to figure out if the President is committing adultery in the Oval office and putting himself in the position to be blackmailed and compromised Versus the stupidity of the steriods hearings.
Posted by: Mike_C | November 20, 2008, 8:23 am 8:23 am
Seymour,
The nation is doomed. It will die of debt poison. No programs for the government were ever cancelled.
The electoriate process is broken. Obama promised a tax cut to 90% of the American people while only 60% of the American people actually pay an federal income tax. 40% of America pays no income taxes but they get a tax refund. That is called a bribe.
Well, it’s too late now. The markets and all earnings are broke in America. We will die of factinalism. BTW, all Republics die of factionalism.
Waxman will destroy business in America. What the jerk forgets is business pays taxes.
The quicker we divorce from one another the better all our lives will be.
Posted by: Reagan | November 20, 2008, 8:33 am 8:33 am
So, it’s a democratic society for 4 years?!!!!!
Posted by: jill | November 20, 2008, 8:35 am 8:35 am
How in the world can the Democrats favor bailing out the US auto industry and replace Dingell with a far-left anti-automobile activist like Waxman????
{{{{{shaking head}}}}}
Posted by: gtessex | November 20, 2008, 8:38 am 8:38 am
So, it’s a democratic society for 4 years?!!!!!
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Jill,
The only question left now is just how bad is it going to get with this group of loons in control?
Barney Frank thinks the using Chap 11 on the auto makers before any fed aid should be called ‘union busting’.
Pelosi & Reid practiaclly ran to the auto makers as soon as the election was over to try to get a deal brokered. Fortunately, the public outrage has caused this thing to be held up fow now.
Obama seems to want to return to the ’90s for real bringing in mostly Clinton cronies so far (Oh by the way did actually say he would have RepublicanS in his cabinet – meaning more than one!).
The democratic controlled senate seem ready to stop for the year – even though we have HUGE issues still unresovled. Im sure Pelosi will be ready to close the House soon too.
Why are these clowns not putting the REAL OVERSIGHT in place on the $770B bailout BEFORE they leave for their “Holiday” break.
Change My @ss !!! This is the same old Washington. Democrats have their chance RIGHT NOW to step up and do whats right. I guarantee that Pelosi & Reid wont dont it! Obama & Bush should get on TV tonight and DEMAND that Congress stay in session until that oversight is created and in place!
No one else should get a dime of that moeny until that is done. No one else should be granted a hearing or any time to argue that they need $$$ until the oversight is in place!
Posted by: Mike_C | November 20, 2008, 9:10 am 9:10 am