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Changes in congress could affect DeGette's panel role

Coloradan an ally of Dingell, who lost top committee job

By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 20, 2008 at 2:01 p.m.
Updated November 20, 2008 at 11:56 p.m.

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Diana DeGette

Diana DeGette

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The ouster of a powerful congressional committee chairman could affect Colorado's clout on Capitol Hill.

On Thursday, Democrats in the House voted 137- 122 to replace Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., with Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The shake-up could affect Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, because she serves as Dingell's hand-picked vice chairwoman on the committee. She's in charge of hearings when the chairman is absent.

A spokesman for DeGette said it was unclear whether DeGette would remain vice chairwoman but pointed out that, either way, she remains a senior member of the committee and a member of Democratic Party leadership as chief deputy whip.

DeGette had backed Dingell to keep his chairmanship and after the vote released a statement congratulating Waxman on the victory.

"The winds of change have blown through Congress today. I congratulate Chairman Waxman on his selection as chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce," DeGette said.

"I have worked closely with him on issues including the environment and consumer protection and look forward to serving with him to move our nation's agenda forward.

"I also pledge to do everything I can to heal any rifts in the committee and the Democratic Caucus," she said.

The intraparty fight for the chairmanship tested the traditional seniority system in the House of Representatives.

Waxman won the coveted position despite having 20 years less seniority than Dingell, 82, the second-longest-serving member in congressional history.

The committee handles a variety of issues, including energy policy, health care, telecommunications and efforts to address climate change.

Comments

  • November 20, 2008

    2:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jrhino writes:

    Dianna DeGette needs to work to reduce illegal immigration in Colorado and create Jobs in the Metro area. She spends to much time brown nosing. We need someone who works on Denver Metros economic problems. We need a representative.

    (dont blame me I voted for Lilly)

  • November 20, 2008

    2:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    conniesz writes:

    Hey MrCrush - a "Certificate of live birth" is the official name for what is commonly called a "birth certificate". Look it up! He was born in Honolulu on August 4, 1961 - get over it.

  • November 20, 2008

    3:03 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    chickenlittle1234 writes:

    MrCrush - Do you have a link to that headline?

  • November 20, 2008

    3:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HankReardon writes:

    Um, that's a bit long for a headline.

    Just so you know. I can't get my BC either. It has been over 42 years since my birth. I think one of my previous employers in PA in the 1980s had it last. The hospital and PA chamber of commerce don't have a copy either. Luckily, I used it to get a passport before I lost track of it. Guess I won't be running for president anytime soon, huh?

    McCrush, here's a newsflash:
    You're a broken record (for the kids, that's sort of like a skipping CD but more repetative).

  • November 20, 2008

    3:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    TimeLord writes:

    "This is the first day I've smiled since November 4th."

    That's nice, sounds like acceptance is sinking slowly into your thick skull. Enjoy your fantasies about a judicial coup, and have fun watching Obama's inauguration.

  • November 21, 2008

    8:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    michaelwelsh writes:

    When Michelle Obama said during the primaries that her husband's victory made her "proud of America for the first time," she got roasted for it, and perhaps rightly so. Glad that her husband's "foreign" birth certificate is making people smile these days after the "darkness" of Nov. 4.