Waxman's Challenge to Dingell Divides House Democrats

[Ron Burgundy]

Nov. 14 (Bloomberg) -- When House Democrats return toWashington next week, they will have to choose between two of theparty's most senior lawmakers.

The elder statesman is Michigan Representative John Dingell,82, the longest-serving House member, with 52 years in office.The challenger is Henry Waxman of California, 69, who has been inCongress for 34 years and is vying to replace Dingell as chairmanof the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.

The stakes are high because the panel has jurisdiction overenergy, health care and telecommunications issues, centralelements of President-elect Barack Obama's agenda.

Dingell, one of the auto industry's staunchest allies, isbeing challenged as the nation's carmakers are in financialturmoil and have asked for up to $50 billion in federal support.Next year, he is likely to be one of the strongest advocates of auniversal health-care plan. Waxman's record as chairman of theOversight and Government Reform Committee indicates he would betough on the energy, drugs and auto industries.

The battle also is a departure from House protocol.

Dingell is ``the personification of the Old Bull in terms ofsomeone who is in command of a committee and expects to betreated with the respect his position confers upon him,'' saidJohn Fortier, a research fellow at the American EnterpriseInstitute, a Washington-based research organization that usuallysupports Republicans.

Seniority System

The fight pits the Rust Belt against Silicon Valley, BigLabor against the new economy, and the old guard against relativenewcomers. Almost all the House committee chairmen are backingDingell because his removal would erode a long-standing senioritysystem for such posts. The average age of chairmen is 65, whilethe average age for freshmen lawmakers in 2006 and this year was49.

The fight has divided Democrats. Yesterday, Dingell won thebacking of Representative John Lewis of Georgia, a leading civil-rights activist, and five other members of the CongressionalBlack Caucus.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn, the third-rankingDemocratic leader in the chamber, favors Dingell because he hasmore seniority on the panel and he and other members of theCongressional Black Caucus are concerned that the effort tounseat him would undermine the seniority system, said KristieGreco, Clyburn's spokeswoman.

Dingell's Letter

Dingell today wrote a letter to 152 of his Democraticcolleagues, assuring them a climate-change measure he hasproposed includes most of the principles they outlined in aletter to him in October.

``I intend to move quickly, especially now that ourpresident-elect shares our commitment to solving this problem,''Dingell said in the letter.

Waxman, meanwhile, has been endorsed by RepresentativeElijah Cummings of Maryland, another member of the CongressionalBlack Caucus, who is ``campaigning hard'' within the 43-membergroup, Cummings spokeswoman Jennifer Kohl said.

Dingell's support is in part based on his prowess as afundraiser. He raised more than $1.1 million for the DemocraticCongressional Campaign Committee in the last election cycle.

Waxman Fundraising

Waxman, who ran unopposed in his wealthy Beverly Hillsdistrict this year, brought in only $16,000 for the committee,records show.

While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has said she isn'ttaking sides in the fight, has squared off against Dingell overenvironmental and other issues in the past.

In 2002, she took the unusual step of backing the challengerto Dingell's seat during the Democratic primary. In addition, oneof her closest allies, fellow Californian George Miller, supportsWaxman, along with the rest of the more than two dozen Democratsin the state's delegation.

Generally, Waxman is viewed as more partisan than Dingell,who has spent decades working with Republicans to passlegislation friendly to the auto industry that is the lifebloodof his Michigan congressional district

More Bipartisan

``If Dingell wins there will be far greater chance of movinglegislation forward on a bipartisan basis,'' said SpencerAbraham, a former Republican senator from Michigan. ``If Waxmanis successful, what you will see is legislation that is moreliberal and far less conciliatory in the approach taken towardRepublicans.''

The 54-member House Democratic steering committee may voteon the chairmanship as soon as Nov. 19. The loser could appealthat vote to the full Democratic caucus. Both votes would takeplace by secret ballot.

``I expect to win,'' Waxman said in an interview yesterday.

Waxman ``has got all the votes he needs,'' saidRepresentative Jim Cooper of Tennessee, who belongs to the 44-member Blue Dog Coalition of fiscally conservative Democrats andsupports the Californian's bid. ``We cannot afford for the Obamaadministration to have less than the best'' at the head of thecommittee.

There is enduring bad feeling between Dingell and Cooper. In1994, Dingell blocked a health-care proposal Cooper offered as acompromise to the Clinton administration's plan.

Blue Dogs

Dingell, though, has the support of the top three leaders ofthe Blue Dogs, Representatives Allen Boyd of Florida, Mike Rossof Arkansas, and John Tanner of Tennessee.

While Obama has remained neutral in the race, Waxman mayhave some support with the incoming administration: his formerChief of Staff Phil Schiliro is part of Obama's transition teamand his chief liaison to Congress.

``When they were looking for the best congressional liaisonwho did they pick? One of Henry's guys,'' Cooper said.

Schiliro couldn't be reached for comment.

Dingell, meanwhile, has been lobbying fellow Democrats.

``He's been on the phone constantly reaching out to everymember,'' said his spokeswoman, Jodi Seth.

If Waxman succeeds, the panel will be delivered to one ofthe toughest critics of the energy industry. The Californialawmaker has sponsored climate-change legislation favored byenvironmental groups.

Dingell said he would press legislation that takes intoaccount the views of members with ties to U.S. industries.

``Waxman's position is well known, and so that's theconcern,'' said Frederick Palmer, vice president of governmentrelations for St. Louis-based Peabody Energy Corp., the largestU.S. coal producer. ``Dingell is someone industry is verycomfortable working with.''

source: Bloomberg - http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20081114/pl_bloomberg/am5yhck1yyrs [link]