Waxman Defeats Dingell for Energy Committee Chair

It’s official.  Congressman Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) defeated Congressman John Dingell (D-MI) in the race to be chair of the House of Representatives Energy Committee.  This is good news for Californians interesting inlobbying on behalf of a greener energy policy, after all there are few people as influential as the Energy Committee Chair, and for the environment in general.

Dingell has long been a water carrier for the embattled Big 3 Automakers and their union constituencies.  Recently he’s been responsible for lax Greenhouse Gas standards and has generally fought toughening federal clean air laws.  Dingell has promised to be a more environmentally friendly Committee Chair.

Is Dingell’s ouster a signal of waning power on Capitol Hill for U.S. automakers?  The news from Capitol Hill doesn’t appear good for those hoping Congress writes a $25 billion check to bailout the Big 3.

  • Maybe this is good, maybe it’s bad. Waxman is hardly green in my eyes due to his obstruction to the extension of the Red LIne thru mid Wilshire.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

LA’s Congressman Waxman Eyeing Energy Committee Chair

By Damien Newton |
Via Reconnecting America: The New Republic reports that Westside Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman is seeking the Chairmanship for the House of Representative’s Energy Committee.  Waxman’s rival is John Dingell (D-MI) who may represent his car building district well, but is responsible for delaying Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and was the first to suggest a $25 […]

Waxman on Stimulus Conference Committee, Call Now

By Damien Newton |
The fight to preserve and expand funding for bicycle, pedestrian and transit projects in the federal stimulus package isn’t over just yet.  Because the Senate and House of Representatives didn’t pass identical bills, the two sides will each send five members to a conference committee to hammer out the differences before it is signed by […]

Oberstar’s New Transportation Bill: Get The Highlights

By Elana Schor |
(editor’s note: Elana Schor has done yeoman’s work analyzing the newly released white paper from Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) which very well could end up being the framework for the next authorization of the Federal Transportation Trust Fund.  Oberstar’s work on this issue really puts the "work" done by the Chair of the Senate Transportation […]