Meetings for party leadership elections and respective Democratic and Republican caucuses in the House and Senate dominated behind-the-scenes during this week’s lame-duck session.
In the Senate, a resolution to the fate of Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) allowed him to remain chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee but forced him to relinquish his chairmanship of an Environment and Public Works subcommittee and his seat on the Committee. The move took place as a means of addressing concerns expressed by senior Senate Democrats about Senator Lieberman’s support for the Presidential candidacy of Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.).
In the House, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has ousted Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. The House Democratic Caucus held a secret-ballot vote and ousted Rep. Dingell by a 137-122 vote of the Democratic Caucus. The vote was widely viewed as a referendum on the Caucus’ future approach to energy and climate policy, as well as a test of the seniority system the party has long used to select committee chairmen and ranking members. It also strengthens House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who stayed neutral but whose allies supported Waxman’s agenda that will likely address climate change, energy, healthcare and other priorities of President-elect Barack Obama. Rep. Dingell will stay on as chairman emeritus.
As a result of Rep. Waxman’s victory, Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) is widely expected to succeed outgoing Chairman Waxman on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee as Chairman. Towns is expected to face little opposition in his bid to succeed Waxman, who was very active in investigating the Bush Administration and supported sweeping contracting reform measures.
House Democrats voted on its leadership for the 111th Congress and chose the following:
- House Speaker: Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
- Majority Leader: Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)
- Majority Whip: Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.)
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: John Larson (D-Conn.)
- Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman: Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.)
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman: Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
- Republican Leader: Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio)
- Republican Whip: Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.)
- Conference Chairman: Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)
- Policy Committee Chairman: Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.)
- Conference Vice-Chair: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.)
- Conference Secretary: Rep. John Carter (R-Texas)
- National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman: Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas)
- President Pro Tempore: Robert C. Byrd (D-W.V.)
- Assistant Majority Leader: Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
- Conference of the Vice Chair: Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.)
- Conference Secretary: Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
- Policy Committee Chairman: Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.)
- Steering and Outreach Committee Chair: Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
- Committee Outreach Chairman: Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.)
- Rural Outreach Chair: Blanche L. Lincoln (D-Ark.)
- Chief Deputy Whip: Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
- Deputy Whip: Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.)
- Deputy Whip: Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)
- Deputy Whip: Russell D. Feingold (D-Wis.)
- Republican Leader: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
- Republican Whip: Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.)
- Republican Conference Chair: Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)
- Republican Policy Committee Chairman: Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.)
- Republican Conference Vice Chair: John Thune (R-S.D.)
- National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman: John Cornyn (R-Texas)