WAXMAN TRIES COUP AGAINST DINGELL FOR COMMERCE CHAIR

摘要

Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., of the House Oversight Committee ignited a firestorm on the Hill by angling to replace Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., as Commerce Committee chairman, a position the incumbent had thought safe. Telecom industry officials are warily watching the move by Waxman, who's considered more liberal than Dingell. "Most members don't make such announcements, especially the day after their party has won the White House," an industry executive said. There's fear that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has tangled with Dingell, may give Waxman the job. nnBut "it's hard to believe that less than 24 hours after his election, Barack Obama would let Nancy Pelosi replace the steady hand of John Dingell for someone who is so clearly anti-industry as Henry Waxman," an industry official said. "This will send a message that the far left is now in charge of the Obama administration." A committee spokeswoman said, "Dingell has a strong record of accomplishment for the first two years back in the majority and is positioned to move full speed ahead with an aggressive agenda... 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's office did not return calls or e-mails for comment.