The New York Times has a good description of how the sausage gets made -- and who gets mad. Henry Waxman has taken away the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee from Michigan's John Dingell. Dingell, now into his 80's, had been there forever, frozen in place, and, as the Times report points out, many believe that "Mr. Dingell’s single-minded defense of the automobile industry’s interests set back safety, mileage and emissions standards by years and helped lead the companies to their present precarious position." Time to go.
In the closed caucus meeting on Thursday, Mr. Dingell spoke first, emphasizing his decades of legislative accomplishments and defending the seniority system that had cemented his power. He pulled himself up from the wheelchair he has used since knee replacement surgery last month to stand at the lectern. He spoke for two minutes and received a respectful hearing.
Several of his supporters then spoke, concluding with Representative John Lewis of Georgia, the civil rights leader, who gave an impassioned defense of Mr. Dingell as a friend of minorities and working men and women. Mr. Lewis said Mr. Dingell was at President Lyndon B. Johnson's side as he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the bill creating Medicare a year later. Mr. Lewis received a standing ovation.
Then Mr. Waxman’s team took the floor, making his argument that voters demanded change on Nov. 4 and that Mr. Dingell represented the status quo.
Representative Bruce Braley of Iowa, who is finishing his first term, delivered a blistering attack on Mr. Dingell.
“I certainly did what I could to let them know that here was a clear choice,” said Mr. Braley, who just won a second term. He was born two years after Mr. Dingell entered Congress.
Mr. Waxman spoke last, taking a full five minutes to methodically make his case for new leadership on the committee that will shape some of the most important legislation to move through Congress in years.
When he finished, Ms. Pelosi jumped up from her seat at the leadership table and led a standing ovation for him, an act that some said was all the evidence needed by wavering members.
