Waxman to take on Dingell for house chairman

Californian Waxman targets Dingell's House chairmanshipBY JUSTIN HYDEFREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF WASHINGTON -- It took congressional Democrats less than 12 hours after a sweeping victory on election night to start fighting among themselves for power on Capitol Hill -- and the main target is U.S. Rep. John Dingell. The Dearborn lawmaker and longest-serving current member of the House faces an unexpected challenge from California Rep. Henry Waxman for his job as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee -- a gavel Dingell first took hold of 27 years ago. The post ranks as one of the most powerful in Washington, and Dingell has used it to influence thousands of bills, from the breakup of AT&T through the 1990 Clean Air Act to this year's $25-billion loan program for automakers. With the Obama administration on the horizon, the committee will serve as the front line for important debates such as health care reform, controlling greenhouse gases and renewable energy. If Dingell loses the chairmanship, Michigan's influence on Capitol Hill will be diminished, as Dingell has been the point man for much of the auto industry's efforts, among other things. Waxman, who runs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has called for stronger fuel economy rules for automakers along with other tougher environmental standards. "I hope Mr. Waxman would reconsider. I don't think this is a battle he wants to put in motion," said Rep. Bart Stupak, a Menominee Democrat and one of Dingell's closest allies on the committee. "No one has articulated to me any reason why Chairman Dingell should be replaced," he added. "You better have a good reason to challenge a sitting chairman." Shortly after Waxman called Dingell on Wednesday morning to announce his challenge, allies of the 82-year-old lawmaker rushed to his defense. Although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whom Dingell has clashed with in the past, could side with her state ally and press for his campaign, House Democrats would make the final decision -- if the fight goes that far. "This is unhealthy and does not benefit the party in any way," said Jodi Bennett Seth, a spokeswoman for Dingell. "Tearing a leadership apart is something the Republicans should be doing after their big loss. It shouldn't be the first order of business for the Democrats after a historic election." Waxman confirmed in a statement that he is seeking the post. "Some of the most important challenges we face --energy, climate change, and health care -- are under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Committee," he said. "In large measure, our success as Congress will depend on how the Commerce Committee performs." Several Washington sources said they were puzzled by Waxman's challenge because the committee had run smoothly in recent years, steadily producing complex bills. Committee chairmanships usually go to the member who has served the longest, although junior members have pulled upsets in cases where a chairman was clearly ineffective. Dingell has been recovering from knee replacement surgery last month after spending much of the past year on crutches, sometimes moving slowly and in visible pain around the Capitol. But Dingell, first elected in 1955, has shown few other signs of age. "He's sharper than most members on his bad days," Stupak said. While Waxman has held several high-profile hearings in his oversight committee, such as a recent one focusing on the collapse of Lehman Brothers, he has made little headway in legislation. It's also unlikely that a Democratic administration will create the same kind of opportunities for a Democratic-run oversight committee. While Waxman may count on support from the large California delegation and Pelosi, Dingell could respond with backing from several other parts of the party, including conservative and black Democratic members. Earlier this year, Dingell set up his first leadership political action committee to send donations to freshmen House members and Democratic challengers.