Fuel Bill Shows House Speaker Pelosi's Muscle

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Fuel Bill Shows House Speaker’s Muscle
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: December 2, 2007

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 — The question has hung over Nancy Pelosi since she became speaker of the House: could she handle the powerful Democratic committee chairmen who stuck it out 12 years in the minority for the chance to wield authority once their party won control? With the deal on a major energy bill on Friday evening, the answer was clear. Ms. Pelosi had effectively corralled the oldest and arguably the baddest of the “old bulls,” Representative John D. Dingell Jr. of Michigan, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Ms. Pelosi’s maneuvering around Mr. Dingell on the energy bill is the clearest example of how, in her dealings with the chairmen, she has kept power in the House firmly in the speaker’s office. She is clearly in charge as Congress heads into these last critical weeks of the year, seeking to clinch legislative victories....

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While some lawmakers have occasionally complained in speeches on the House floor about being bullied by the speaker’s office, in interviews they mostly offered praise. “When you have the right balance between leadership defining what the goals are and the committee having the chance to impact how you get there, that’s the best way to produce legislation,” said Representative David R. Obey of Wisconsin, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, who has rarely clashed with Ms. Pelosi this year. “That’s what I think Nancy has tried to do.” But there is ample evidence that Ms. Pelosi tips the balance her way.

Some veteran liberal Democratic chairmen like Representative Charles B. Rangel of New York, who leads the Ways and Means Committee, have emerged as less powerful than expected, with Ms. Pelosi charting a more centrist course. For instance, she has given only lukewarm support to a huge tax overhaul Mr. Rangel has proposed.

At other times, Ms. Pelosi has ignored the counsel of chairmen like Representative Ike Skelton of Missouri on the Armed Services Committee, who warned her against a measure condemning the genocide of Armenians in 1915. Mr. Skelton said the legislation would cause major problems with Turkey, an important military ally. Ms. Pelosi stirred controversy by letting the bill move out of committee. But when Turkey threatened reprisal, she changed her mind and did not let the bill come to a vote.

Aides to Ms. Pelosi said her leadership strategy was driven by pragmatism and a commitment to the Democratic Party’s overarching agenda. At times Ms. Pelosi has bypassed House chairmen to deal with the Senate....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/washington/02energy.html