The age thing for Democrats in Congress

[BeyondGeography]

From last November, but obviously topical: "The younger members of the Democratic Party in Congress are complaining about their party's seniority rules ….."

http://www.politicaldog101.com/2016/11/16/the-age-thing-for-democrats-in-congress/

— For years now, there has been a problematic lack of upward mobility for younger Democrats. Consider:

The top three Democrats in leadership are 76 (Pelosi), 77 (Steny Hoyer) and 76 (Jim Clyburn). The top three Republican leaders, in contrast, are 46 (Paul Ryan), 51 (Kevin McCarthy) and 51 (Steve Scalise). Pelosi and Hoyer have together led the House Democrats for 14 years now. Ryan, of course, replaced John Boehner just last year after an open election process. (And while rank-and-file Republicans get to vote on who will chair the NRCC, Pelosi picks the leader of the DCCC.)

House Democrats do not have term limits for their committee chairs, as Republicans do. The average age of the Democratic ranking members on the 22 House committees this Congress is 68. The average age of the Republican chairmen is 60. On only four of the 22 committees is the top Republican older than the top Democrat.

The seniority rules mean that the most important committees are led by the oldest members. The ranking Democrat on the Judiciary, John Conyers, is 87. Ways and Means ranking member Sander Levin is 85. Nita Lowey, ranking on Appropriations, is 79. Maxine Waters, ranking on Financial Services, is 78. For context, the Republicans who lead those crucial committees are 78, 64, 61 and 59.

— There is palpable concern among Democratic elites around town that too many of these ranking members in the House are not pit bull types who can effectively argue for Democratic principles on television and during floor debates. It’s a refrain you hear constantly: Do Democrats really want the 85-year-old Levin running point against the GOP’s drive to repeal Obamacare and negotiating what could be the most significant rewrite of the tax code in a generation? Do they want the 87-year-old Conyers being the tip of the spear against a Trump Justice Department and all the scandals that could potentially bring?

[stonecutter357]

1. this OP sounds like some crap fox/fake news would pull....

[chimpymustgo]

2. No - it's a real issue we need to address. The old fogeys need to step aside - or at least BRING IN

some new blood.

[stonecutter357]

3. Fox and the RWNJ's agree with you..

[chimpymustgo]

5. And many DEMS - who'd rather fight than switch. We must get our heads out of the sand

and play hard ball. This is a changed world. We've got to stop bringing knives to the gunfight.

[BeyondGeography]

4. What is it about 85- and 87-year-old ranking committee members that is fake?

[sarcasmo]

11. It's a real issue for this Democratic voter.

[Demsrule86]

18. I don't buy that.

[BainsBane]

6. ranking means most seniority

They are in those positions because they have won elections for decades. The Republicans have not.

I thought the whole argument was about winning? Yet now we hear how those who have won the most should be shoved aside for those who haven't.

The arguments are contradictory, particularly when they are led by a faction that idolizes a septuagenarian senator, some of who want him to run for Pres again at the age of 79.

[BeyondGeography]

7. Term limits for chairs

The Republicans do it, we don't.

[BainsBane]

9. Ah, that's a fair argument

I'd have to read more to take a position, but it is the Dem caucus that decides such things.

[stonecutter357]

8. +1000.

[BainsBane]

10. Only

I wrote before reading. As the OP pointed out (and the article says), the GOP has term limits for committee chairs and the Dems don't. That is something to consider.

[msongs]

12. when politicians hang on to their power til the bitter end it blocks younger talent that may or may

not be able to do a better job. mandatory retirement ages are common everywhere outside of politics.

[TheFrenchRazor]

17. "blocks younger talent?" wouldn't that apply in reverse as well? young people should step aside and

stop getting in older people's way! or maybe you think that young people are some special, privileged class, that the rest of us should step aside for. good luck with that.

[MineralMan]

13. And yet, many wanted Bernie Sanders as President.

Age is not really the issue, is it? It's something else, I think.

[BeyondGeography]

15. Age is an issue for us in Congress and it has nothing to do with Bernie

Some of our ranking members can barely get their lines out cleanly anymore. Have you heard Conyers speak lately? I saw him about 12 or so years ago in NYC and he was a force. WAS. Our seniority rules allow ranking members to go out feet first. It's an embarrassment and it's obviously demoralizing for the people in the queue.

[Shandris]

14. Sounds like some people need to break out Dylan again.

C'mon, he's before my time and even I know when he's right.

[TheFrenchRazor]

16. so younger people should be allowed to cut to the front of the line, just cuz... jeez, when these yo

young people have the experience, wisdom, and accomplishment to justify them gaining positions of leadership, that is when they will be put there.

[BeyondGeography]

19. Yeah, whipper snappers like Jerry Nadler (70) and Zoe Lofgren (69)

on judiciary clearly lack experience and wisdom. Maybe take a look at who's on these committees first.