Matt Yglesias

Quiet Revolution on House Energy and Commerce

The last election itself was an important shake-up of the power structure in Washington. But another important development has been the way in which the new, more leftward tilt of the House, is leading to restructuring of the House of Representatives leadership hierarchy. The core leadership team around Nancy Pelosi (herself the most powerful DFH in the land) is more progressive and as Brad Johnson explains the Waxman-Dingell switcheroo on the powerful Energy & Commerce committee is being followed-up with more change:

Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) will become chair of Energy and Environment Subcommittee of Rep. Henry Waxman’s (D-CA) House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Markey’s new subcommittee will replace the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee chaired by Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), a coal-country representative, and the Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee chaired by Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), an oil-patch Democrat.

The new team in chart form:

We can look forward to this group writing a lot of excellent legislation that passes before dying or being watered-down in the Senate!

24 Responses to “Quiet Revolution on House Energy and Commerce”

1. Independent Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 4:19 pm

   I welcome the Waxman-Dingell switch. But Chairman Waxman, in my opinion, needs to be more effective, purposeful, and results oriented.

2. David Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

   One other potential benefit of this switch is Boucher chairing Comm, Tech and the Internet. As a rural rep, might we see good, effective legislation on getting the rural poor internet technology, often seen as an important stepping stone in lifting them out of poverty?

3. michael Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 5:05 pm

   Pelosi, a DFH? Please. Born and bred to politics, a massive failure to stand-up to Bush on key issues such as illegal wiretapping. She may be more progressive on lots of issues but a DFH, NFW (no fucking way)!

4. myglesias Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 5:23 pm

   a massive failure to stand-up to Bush on key issues such as illegal wiretapping

   Word on the street is she backed down on this at B.O.’s request in order to try to make him not look so bad.

5. myglesias Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 5:24 pm

   As a rural rep, might we see good, effective legislation on getting the rural poor internet technology, often seen as an important stepping stone in lifting them out of poverty?

   We might, we might. This is also a pet issue of Mark Warner’s. Though personally I’m skeptical that it’s quite the panacea people seem to think.

6. Richard Steven Hack Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 5:24 pm

   Meanwhile, Obama lays the groundwork for war with Iran:

   UPDATE: Washington Institute Reports Bigger Role for Ross
   http://www.ips.org/blog/jimlobe/?p=215

   The matchless Nelson Report has updated the news about the prospective appointment of Dennis Ross as Special Envoy for Iran, and the update is even more concerning than the original report. Chris Nelson apparently got hold of an internal memo from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) in which its director, Robert Satloff, outlines Ross’ much-expanded job description. It reads as if Ross will be a sort of Middle East “czar”. Here it is, as quoted in the Report:

   To: Members of the Board of Trustees
   From: Chairman Fred Lafer, President Howard Berkowitz, and Executive Director Robert Satloff
   Re: Ambassador Dennis Ross to Join Obama Administration

   We are delighted to share the news that Ambassador Dennis Ross, counselor and Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute, has accepted an invitation to join the Obama administration as ambassador-at-large and senior advisor to Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton.

   In that seventh-floor job, designed especially for him, Ambassador Ross will be the secretary’s top advisor on a wide range of Middle East issues,from the Arab-Israeli peace process to Iran. Ambassador Ross will not reprise his previous role as special Arab-Israeli peace envoy, a post that will be held by someone else; rather he will be working closely with both the special envoy and the secretary. Ambassador Ross is expected to take his post immediately after inauguration.

   We know you share our pride in Ambassador Ross’s achievements, which reflect not only his outstanding contribution to U.S. foreign policy, but also the Institute’s unique role in supporting those who can advance peace and security in the Middle East.

   Needless to say, if the memo is genuine (and I have no doubt that it is) and accurate, Ross’ appointment marks a major setback for those who had hoped that Obama might bring some fresh thinking to Middle East policy, particularly vis-a-vis Iran and Israel-Palestine.

   P.S. Haass has vigorously denied that he has been offered the Israel-Palestinian portfolio, although I’ve heard the denials are not entirely persuasive. If Haass indeed does not get it, then Dan Kurtzer, who served as a close adviser to Obama during the campaign, would be considered the most likely choice at this point, although Martin Indyk would, I imagine, be far more compatible with Ross. Indeed, neither Kurtzer nor Haass may find the job particularly inviting if they have to report through Ross to Clinton and the White House.

7. Zaid Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 5:34 pm

   “Word on the street is she backed down on this at B.O.’s request in order to try to make him not look so bad.”

   The one consistent thing about BO is that he loves to look good, or at least try to get everyone to like him.

8. Sam L Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 5:38 pm

   This half answers a question I left over at Ezra’s place. What the hell happened to Gene Green? Did he just get badly outmaneuvered? Is he getting something in return? Is he retired? Clearly they just gave Boucher some goodies (a different subcommittee chairmanship) to get out of the way, but making Green’s committee into part of Markey’s without any compensation kind of sucks for him.

9. joe from Lowell Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 5:46 pm

   We can look forward to this group writing a lot of excellent legislation that passes before dying or being watered-down in the Senate!

   USA! USA!

10. Of course Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    Anybody who disagrees with Bobby Rush is racist. So the commerce, trade, and consumer protection subcommittee will likely become the most powerful of them all.

11. Seth Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    We can look forward to this group writing a lot of excellent legislation that passes before dying or being watered-down in the Senate!

    should read:

    … excellent legislation that passes before dying, being watered-down, or entering the “Coburn Hold Zone” never to be heard from again in the Senate!

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