What the car industry doesn't need now is Waxman replacing Dingell
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DETROIT - General Motors, Ford and Chrysler execs are meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) as I write this, seeking $25 billion in loan guarantees on top of the $25 billion for development of fuel-efficient cars. There's a bigger issue looming for the Detroit Three, though: Henry Waxman, another California Democrat, has lobbied Pelosi to replace John Dingell as chairman of the Energy & Commerce committee.
Dingell, Democrat from Michigan's 15th district, doesn't want to go anywhere. He has more experience than any other congress member, having replaced his late father in the 15th district in 1955. He's number 33 on Motor Trend's 2008 Power List, mostly for his efforts in beating back draconian Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards in last year's Energy Bill. Dingell didn't make as much progress on the bill as he'd like, but it would have been even tougher for automakers to meet had Waxman and fellow committee member Representative Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) prevailed.
While they're with the same party, Dingell and Waxman don't get along, at least on issues of energy and climate change, the two lead issues that Energy & Commerce oversees. Dingell is a champion of his home state's auto industry of course, while Waxman would like nothing better than to adapt stricter California Air Resources Board standards nationally. He knows that when the California Air Resources Board issues its latest emissions rules, automakers will take the state to court, again, to get a ruling that states can't supersede federal rules. With six Eastern states following the California standard, the Golden State has de facto authority over the federal government. (What we really could use is a global standard, but that's another post.) If Waxman becomes chairman, he could push for a stricter CAFE standard, like CARB's proposal.
Speaker Pelosi will have a lot of influence in nominating the 111th Congress' Energy & Commerce chairman to the Democratic caucus, and it's easy to jump to the conclusion that the two California Democrats would like to impose the strict fuel economy standards that CARB favors. Representative Bart Stupak (D-Michigan) doesn't see that happening, with 48 of 50 states have ties to the auto industry.
I'd rather not take the risk.
Still, the loyal opposition is confident. Representative Mike Doyle, Dem from Pennsylvania, says Waxman doesn't have committee support to become chairman.
"The chairman (Dingell) has aggressively pursued the agenda that has been supported by the Democratic leadership," Doyle says. "I asked Mr. Waxman what is his reason for opposing Mr. Dingell...He was unable to give me a reason, other than he wanted to be chairman."
Stupak and Doyle say they have enough votes in the committee to oppose Waxman's challenge. Dingell will remain chairman of the committee, they say. If you agree, see whether someone from your state is on the committee by going to energycommerce.house.gov (Democrats are in the left column) and write your congressman or woman. Stupak expects a caucus vote on the Energy & Commerce chairman about November 17 or 18.
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