Waxman Wins Vote to Become Chair of House Energy and Commerce Committee

Will oversee all legislation on energy, healthcare and telecommunications, in addition to other key measures moving through the 111th Congress.

Congressman Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) has defeated long-time senior Democrat John Dingell (D-Dearborn, MI), to become chair of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. The final vote, 137 - 122, came one day after Waxman won the endorsement of the House Democratic steering committee for the post on a 25 - 22 vote.

Many senior Democrats were stunned by Waxman's victory. Charlie Rangel, chair of the powerful House Ways and Means committee suggested that the seniority system "just got buried."

In fact, the seniority system's demise is likely overstated. The Energy and Commerce Committee will move much of the key legislation sought by the Obama Administration on healthcare and energy policy reform. Dingel was often seen as a "dinosaur", working to protect the interests of the big-three Detroit automakers (and, by extension, oil companies) by, among other things, fighting against increased fuel-economy (CAFE) standards, reductions in auto emissions and other auto-industry regulation.

Many will say that removing Dingel (whose wife is an executive at General Motors) from his post will allow President-Elect Obama to move truly reformative energy legislation through the House, where committee chairs exert great influence on the makeup of the bills making their way through their committees. Moving such reform forward was the reason Waxman gave for raising his challenge to Dingel for the post.

According to the Washington Post, Congressman Rangel (D-NY), accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who remained neutral in the contest, of playing a role in Dingel's overthrow: ""I assume that not playing a role is playing a role," Rangel said."

Waxman, a serious and focused Congressman whose 30th Congressional District covers a broad swath of western / north-coastal Los Angeles County, has long supported tougher standards on the auto industry, and is generally seen as an ally of those seeking to protect and strengthen the interests of individuals and consumers.