Harry Stoffer

Automotive News | November 20, 2008 – 11:18 am EST

Waxman unseats auto ally on House energy committee

ENLARGE

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., left, has unseated Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., longtime auto industry ally in Congress, as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the Detroit 3’s chief ally in Congress, was unseated today as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. The committee handles much industry-related legislation, especially affecting fuel economy and environmental regulation.

Bucking the seniority system in Congress, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., won a secret-ballot election over Dingell. Lawmakers who attended the closed meeting of the House Democratic caucus said the vote was 137-122 in favor of Waxman, who is considered a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Many environmentalists have blamed Dingell for preventing Congress from demanding faster fuel economy improvements by automakers over decades. Dingell, 82, a House member for nearly 53 years, has been the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee since 1981.

Waxman, 69, is the committee’s second-ranking Democrat. The leadership change goes into effect when a new Congress takes office in January.

John Wolkonwicz, analyst for IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Mass., said Waxman’s ascent was “the worst news of the week for the domestic auto industry. That’s going to increase of the cost of autos for all Americans. Waxman is a Beverly Hills guy. He’s going to give us the Beverly Hills version of a green agenda.”

In a statement after the vote, Dingell congratulated Waxman and said: “Well, this was clearly a change year.” He pledged to work closely with Waxman on a smooth transition of committee leadership.

Frank O’Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch, said of today’s vote: “Waxman’s victory is a breath of fresh air — of clean air. It was a stunning defeat for the corporate lobbyists.”

O’Donnell said the vote shows “a majority of the House Democrats are ready to work with the incoming Obama administration on effective global warming legislation.”

Waxman and Dingell have diverged on key industry issues. Waxman, for example, favors allowing states to enforce their own rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.

Dingell opposes state rules, which automakers say are fuel economy standards in disguise. Setting such standards is the sole responsibility of the federal government, they say.

Eligible to vote today were all Democrats elected to the Congress that will be in session in 2009-10.

Advertising Age contributed to this report