Democratic fight tightens with DeGette in mix
11/19/2008 - 3:13pm
Rep. Diana DeGette’s name isn’t on the ballot, but part of her political future could be decided tomorrow in a vote of House Democrats.
The Democratic caucus will decide whether to boot Rep. John Dingell of Michigan as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and replace him with Rep. Henry Waxman of California. The House steering committee today in a 25-22 vote backed Waxman.
DeGette is vice-chair of the Energy and Commerce committee, a position she leapfrogged into in 2006 when Dingell pulled her up over 11 people with more seniority. Dingell is mentor to DeGette, of Denver. She has officialy backed Dingell in the power fight.
“We’ll see what happens tomorrow,” said Kristofer Eisenla, DeGette’s spokesman. “There are so many dynamics here that it’s too close to call.”
The steering committee voted by secret ballot, so the internal dynamics aren’t clear. But Democrats have speculated that Waxman might have a shot at overthrowing Dingell because he has been a staunch supporter of the auto industry and many Democrats want to move more aggressively on global warming issues.
Waxman's spokeswoman Karen Lightfoot declined to say how DeGette's vice-chair role would be affected, should Waxman become chairman.
"One step at a time," Lightfoot said.
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Let's hope she is removed from any so called leadership role. She voted for the bailout even when she was getting calls from her Colorado backers to vote no. She voted to spend our money foolishly and this can not continue. This is a vote for her own best interest and not for the good of us back in Colorado. I will never vote for her again. She will vote for the auto also, just wait and see. I hope the republicans bring forth a business minded candidate in 2010, we must get her out of Congress. She is a great example of taking advantage of the system for her own benefit.