Red, Green, and Blue

House Dems voted 137-122 to oust Michigan’s John Dingell in favor of California’s Henry Waxman as head of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Dingell, 82, the most senior member of the House of Representatives, has been a staunch advocate of the auto industry and had consistently blocked raising automobile fuel economy standards for years before finally acquiescing this past session.

Waxman, on the other hand, has emerged as a strong leader in the Congress’ mounting campaign against dirty energy and the change in leadership should be a palpable one as the next Congress gavels to order in 2009.

“I am honored by the vote of the Democratic Caucus. We are at a unique moment and have an opportunity that comes only once in a generation. I will work with all parts of our Caucus and across the aisle to deliver the change that the American public expects us to deliver.

I have worked with Chairman John Dingell for 34 years. He has been a true legislative champion. I will always admire and respect him and his many legislative accomplishments.”

It almost goes without saying that environmental advocates lauded the committee leadership change. League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski issued the following statement:

“With a lifetime LCV score of 91%, Chairman Waxman has been a longtime leader on energy and environmental issues and LCV congratulates him on his victory. We look forward to working with the new Chairman and with Chairman Dingell to promote the clean, renewable energy future that will repower, refuel, and rebuild America.”

Waxman’s leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, along with Senate counterpart Barbara Boxer’s chairing of the Environment and Public Works Committee will be the building blocks for a unified front in the push for climate change legislation. “For me, as a Californian . . . I could not, frankly, have a better partner,” said California Senator Barbara Boxer, calling the 69-year-old Waxman “a very, very, very strong” ally.

While the House Energy and Commerce Committee will play a visible role in crafting any climate change legislation, it will not do so alone. The special House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will not be disbanded, as was previously planned. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday:

“It is my intention to put forth a renewal of that committee in the new Congress, in the rules for the new congress. I have consulted in bipartisan way on this subject, and I intend to put it in the rules. I think we do have a need for one more term, because our work is not finished. We do not have the climate change legislation that I had hoped we might be closer to, at least at this point.”

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