CongressDailyPM - THE FRIDAY BUZZ - Select Trouble
01-19-2007
THE FRIDAY BUZZ - Select Trouble
Christian Bourge
© National Journal Group, Inc.
House Speaker Pelosi's announcement Thursday that she was creating a select committee on climate change capped off a week of behind-the-scenes wrangling with committee chairmen determined to protect their turf and it may have been a preview of problems ahead for the new Democratic majority. The panel, to be chaired by Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., will not have legislative authority, but some see the move as a shot at Energy and Commerce Chairman Dingell, with whom she has had a difficult relationship. In addition, many see it as a move to consolidate power in the speaker's office much like her support for Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., in his unsuccessful challenge of Majority Leader Hoyer for that leadership job.
"It looks like a serious attempt to consolidate power and to take away power from chairmen who used to run the place when Democrats last controlled," said a chief of staff to one moderate Democrat. "This move makes it sound like she might be inclined to make it go all the way the opposite direction. That is not being well received by many in the Caucus. ... Everyone in leadership is really working very hard to fill in their new roles and hers is the one that is lagging."
Several Democratic aides noted that select committees typically function as a way to create legislation while bypassing the standing committees. Interest groups and lobbyists are trying to gauge exactly what the panel means. While it cannot write legislation, it will have subpoena and other powers of a regular committee. Democratic leadership aides confirmed that Pelosi did not propose legislative authority for the panel when she first presented the idea. Still, when speculation began circulating around the House earlier this week, Dingell, who is famously protective of his committee jurisdiction, rallied opposition to the idea, even taking the step of reaching out to Republicans on his panel and in the GOP leadership to generate opposition to the plan.
A senior Democratic leadership aide agreed that other chairmen are unhappy with the new panel as well. "It takes attention away [from Dingell's committee] and puts the focus on an issue he doesn't want to focus on," said the aide, noting the power of the automotive industry in Dingell's home state of Michigan. "Generally, most of the committee chairmen think that it sets a bad precedent because what if she decided to do it again and give it legislative authority?" One conservative Democrat said he liked the idea of using select panels to focus on specific issues but could not support them if they were given legislative authority, a sentiment echoed by other members, both liberal and moderate.
Several aides worry about putting the liberal Markey as the face of a big issue. "He is not going to build consensus about this issue. He is going to be a lightning rod," predicted a leadership aide. An aide whose boss is closely aligned with Pelosi dismissed the complaints as coming from those who do not understand the power of the speaker's office and what Pelosi is trying to accomplish. Nevertheless, the moderate chief of staff had a warning. "We voted for the '6 for '06' but once we go back to regular order we owe the leadership and constituents our judgment, not our rubber stamp. We are going to remind them of that every time they ask for something."
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