DeGette backs mentor Dingell in chair fight
11/12/2008 - 4:28pm
Rep. Diana DeGette stepped off the sidelines today and weighed in on a power struggle between Democrats.
In the fight for chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, she backs the current chairman (and her mentor) Rep. John Dingell of Michigan.
"Given the critical work ahead, now is not the time for a change in the chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee,'' said DeGette, a Denver Democrat.
Almost as soon as the election was over, Rep. Henry Waxman of California said that he planned to challenge Dingell for the chairmanship. Dingell is the longest-serving member of the House.
DeGette last week urged an end to the power struggle, but stopped short of officially supporting Dingell.
In addition to picking her mentor, DeGette has her own stake in the fight. She is vice-chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, a job Dingell slid her into two years ago. Dingell yanked DeGette up over 11 people with more seniority.
DeGette had nice things to say about Waxman as she backed Dingell.
“On Energy and Commerce, Chairman Waxman has also been visionary in his leadership on health care, consumer and environmental legislation,” DeGette said.
In the fight for chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, she backs the current chairman (and her mentor) Rep. John Dingell of Michigan.
"Given the critical work ahead, now is not the time for a change in the chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee,'' said DeGette, a Denver Democrat.
Almost as soon as the election was over, Rep. Henry Waxman of California said that he planned to challenge Dingell for the chairmanship. Dingell is the longest-serving member of the House.
DeGette last week urged an end to the power struggle, but stopped short of officially supporting Dingell.
In addition to picking her mentor, DeGette has her own stake in the fight. She is vice-chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, a job Dingell slid her into two years ago. Dingell yanked DeGette up over 11 people with more seniority.
DeGette had nice things to say about Waxman as she backed Dingell.
“On Energy and Commerce, Chairman Waxman has also been visionary in his leadership on health care, consumer and environmental legislation,” DeGette said.
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