In US Congressional news, Henry Waxman (D-California) has defeated John Dingell (D-Michigan) for the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee:
Waxman is considered more liberal on issues like climate change, energy and business regulation, and potentially more aggressive on healthcare. Dingell, the longest-serving House lawmaker, is close to the auto industry and autoworkers.
This is a huge deal. Dingell has been the chair of Energy and Commerce, one of the most powerful committees in the House, for 28 years. From that position, he’s dragged his feet on automobile fuel efficiency standards and pushed a climate change bill that wouldn’t start reducing emissions until 2030. Waxman, on the other hand, is from California:
…a state that has for years led the nation in pursuing higher CAFE standards, better emissions control, etc. All things of particular concern in metropolitan areas of California, where auto emissions have been a serious problem for years, but considered anathema in auto manufacturing-dependent Michigan…
In all honesty, I didn’t think Waxman had a chance. Are you sure its not Christmas yet?
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