Democrats Oust Longtime Leader of House Panel

Representative Henry A. Waxman wrested the chairmanship of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee from Representative John D. Dingell on Thursday in a coup that is expected to accelerate passage of energy, climate and health legislation backed by President-elect Barack Obama. Democrats read the signals coming from the president-elect's transition office, which this week announced the intention to name Philip Schiliro, a longtime aide to Mr. Waxman, as the White House director of Congressional relations. Rep Waxman represents Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and well-to-do areas of West Los Angeles. He has long championed clean air legislation and measures to strengthen consumer protections. He supports tougher nursing home regulation, increased federal support for disease research and subsidies for prescription drugs for the poor and the elderly. As ranking member and chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, he has been Congress's grand inquisitor, conducting high-profile investigations of Wall Street, Major League Baseball, Pentagon contractors and the tobacco industry. He has also served as the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health. Many lawmakers and lobbyists consider the Energy and Commerce Committee to be the most influential panel in either house of Congress, one that handles, by some estimates, all or parts of two-thirds of the legislation moving through the House. Three committees in the Senate share jurisdiction over bills relating to energy, environment, telecommunications and commerce, all of which pass through the single House committee. With Mr. Waxman's ascent, more leadership changes on the Energy and Commerce Committee are possible. Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) is expected to replace Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) as chairman of the subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, which has jurisdiction over legislation involving virtually every form of energy.