Waxman to Take On Dingell

[babylonsister]

http://www.rollcall.com/news/29885-1.html


Waxman to Take On Dingell
November 5, 2008, 12:29 p.m.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) plans to challenge Rep John Dingell (D-Mich.) for chairmanship of the influential Energy and Commerce Committee, senior Democratic sources confirmed Wednesday.

The move marks a major showdown between two Democratic powerhouses, with implications for a host of major legislation next year from health care to global warming to renewable energy. Waxman currently chairs the Oversight and Government Reform panel.

[Renew Deal]

1. Isn't Dingell an oil stooge?

[babylonsister]

2. No, he's a champion of the environment.

http://www.lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-names-rep-john-dingell-as-environmental-champion.html

WASHINGTON - The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), the political voice of the national environmental and conservation community, today named Representative John Dingell (D) as 2004 Environmental Champion in his race for reelection to the U.S. Congress in the 15th district of Michigan.

LCV Environmental Champions are candidates who have proven their pro-environment commitment through substantive action. LCV supports these outstanding leaders by rewarding them with direct contributions, fundraising, and occasionally running independent campaigns to help ensure they are reelected to Congress as we continue to build America³ pro-environment majority.

f§ his long and distinguished tenure in the House of Representatives, John Dingell has been an important leader and pioneer on environmental issues, ranging from protecting endangered species to improving the quality of our air and water to preserving open spaces.� Vice President for Policy. �owerful force in Congress for preserving the health and quality of life for families across Michigan.�le="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 80%">Throughout his years of service, Dingell has always been a strong voice for clean water, land conservation, protecting endangered species and their habitat and preserving the quality of life for his constituents. Dingell either authored or was a major force in enacting some of the nation³ groundbreaking environmental laws including the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the original Clean Water Act, the 1990 Clean Air Act, and the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act. As Chairman and now Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, he has used his position not only to advance legislation protecting the environment, but also to initiate inquiries into Administration actions such as the GAO investigation of the Cheney Energy Task Force.

Recently, Dingell scored a 95% on the 2003 LCV scorecard and proposed legislation to safeguard the original intent of the Clean Water Act in protecting all the nation's waters. In this Congress, Rep. Dingell has opposed many of the Bush administration³ proposals including the Bush/Cheney Energy Policy, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, allowing Snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park and attempts to alter the Roadless Rule which would open up national forests to new roads and logging.

He has sponsored a bill to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to protect water quality by improving the containment of MTBE and other contanimants from underground storage leakage. He also recently won passage of a bill to create the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

[Renew Deal]

3. I must have him mixed up.

But I think he was recently shown as a front line special as someone in the way of progress.