Waxman, Dingell face off for energy panel chair

A decision is expected when Democrats vote on the matter Thursday. For Dingell, D-Mich., and Waxman, D-Calif., the vote caps a long-standing rivalry that dates to the Reagan administration. Over the years, they've battled over clean air policy, including epic battles in the 1980s and more recent disagreements over the pace in which to limit greenhouse gases.

Waxman won a test vote Wednesday as the Democratic Steering and Policy panel, which is packed with allies of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., voted 25-22 in favor of Waxman taking over as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The panel is generally dominated by more liberal members who are ideologically in tune with Waxman.

Dingell's allies believe he'll do better among the broader Democratic rank and file.

"That Steering and Policy Committee doesn't reflect the makeup of the caucus," said Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., a leader of an effort to keep Dingell in place. "It's heavily weighted with people more likely to be supportive of Henry."

Dingell, 82, has been the committee's top Democrat for 28 years and is an important ally of automakers and electric utilities. He's considered one of the House's premier legislators, with a lengthy track record on health, consumer issues and the environment, among other things.

The Energy and Commerce panel is one of the most important House committees, with sweeping jurisdiction over energy, the environment, consumer protection and health care programs such as Medicaid and the popular State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Waxman, too, is an accomplished legislator. He chaired the Energy and Commerce health and environment subcommittee for 16 years and won a series of piecemeal expansions of the Medicaid health care program for the poor that added many children to the program.

Pelosi is a home state ally of Waxman and has tangled with Dingell in the past, but she has not publicly taken sides in the battle and has not pressured members privately to back Waxman. Two years ago, Pelosi backed Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., over Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., in the race for majority leader. Hoyer won handily.

In 2002, Pelosi supported Dingell's primary campaign opponent. Last year, in a move viewed as undercutting Dingell's committee jurisdiction on the global warming issue, she created a special panel led by liberal Massachusetts Rep. Edward Markey to make the case for bigger reductions in greenhouse gases.