Second Ways & Means boss ousted; Levin replaces liberal Stark

[kpete]

Source: The Hill


Second Ways & Means boss ousted; Levin replaces liberal Stark
By Jay Heflin - 03/04/10 09:57 AM ET

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced that Rep. Sander Levin will be the interim Ways and Means panel chairman.

Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.) said Pelosi made the announcement at a meeting of the caucus this morning.

Etheridge said Ways and Means members gave their unanimous backing to Levin, a Michigan Democat who has been chairman of the subcommittee on trade.

.........

The startling announcement comes a day after Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) appeared ready to take the reins of the committee from Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.). Stark was the next in line for the post in terms of seniority, but some panel members revolted at the idea of him leading the committee.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/84943-democrats-to-continue-lively-discussion-over-ways-and-means-leadership

[Zynx]

1. Sander Levin is pretty liberal. The headline makes this seem as though it were ideological.

My guess is that it is personal. Pete Stark is an easy guy not to like.

[Renew Deal]

4. It sounded scandalous to me.

Thankfully it's not...I think.

[bemildred]

2. Anytime someone says seniority determines who gets to be chairman, remember this day. nt

[Solly Mack]

3. k/r

[Moosepoop]

5. Stark says it was his decision to step aside

in order to retain his chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Health. Is there any reason not to believe him?

[ro1942]

6. No way

are they going to let Rep. Stark, that actually represents the people near that powerful position.

[Deep13]

7. boo!

:thumbsdown:

[Jefferson23]

8. What a shock!!

:sarcasm:

[stopbush]

9. Rep. Levin tapped as acting Ways and Means chairman

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Rep. Sander Levin, D-Michigan, has been named acting chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, a committee spokesman said Thursday.

The Ways and Means Committee is responsible for crafting tax legislation.

Levin replaces Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-New York, who temporarily stepped aside Wednesday until the conclusion of an ongoing ethics investigation.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/04/levin.rangel/index.html?hpt=T2

---

I had hoped that Pete Stark would get the nod.

[KamaAina]

10. Wow. It took them one whole day to bork Stark.

:eyes:

[LisaM]

11. Sander Levin is a good guy

He's Carl Levin's brother and has been a good Congressman for the state of Michigan for a long time. Michigan can use a voice on that committee, too.

[SharonRB]

12. I'm very happy my rep is now chair of W&M

Sandy's as good as they come and clean as a whistle.

[Psephos]

13. In the future, everyone will be Chair of W&M for 15 minutes. ;) n/t