(Adds reaction, paragraphs 16-17)
By Thomas Ferraro and Tom Doggett
WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, a
California liberal, won the chairmanship of a key congressional
energy committee on Thursday and promised to work closely with
President-elect Barack Obama to promote alternative energy,
ease global warming and expand healthcare.
Waxman wrested control of the U.S. House of Representatives
Energy and Commerce Committee from Rep. John Dingell of
Michigan, a longtime friend of the now-ailing U.S. auto
industry.
The action was taken on a vote of 137-122 at a closed-door
meeting of House Democrats. Waxman will take the gavel when the
111th Congress convenes on Jan. 6, two weeks before Obama is
sworn in as the 44th president.
"American people are hurting all around this country," a
victorious Waxman told reporters on Capitol Hill. "They are
demanding action. And we must live up to their expectations."
Waxman, known as a skilled legislator, said the new
committee leadership would help "to get important issues passed
in healthcare, environmental protection, in energy policy."
Many of Obama's plans will be funneled through the Energy
and Commerce Committee, whose vast jurisdiction includes
consumer protection, regulation of energy resources, global
warming, conservation, health and auto emissions.
Waxman favors stronger fuel economy standards for U.S. cars
and trucks. But with the three major U.S.-based automakers
facing severe financial problems, it may be difficult to boost
gasoline mileage requirements that federal law says must climb
by 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon (6.7 liters/100 km) by
2020. That is still lower than what is required for vehicles in
Europe and Asia.
Environmental groups welcomed Waxman as the new chairman of
the powerful committee
"Waxman will help Obama move forward with his agenda," said
Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Waxman's immediate priorities will likely be passing
legislation to promote alternative energy that would help
create the millions of "green" jobs that Obama has called for.
He is also expected to seek to clear a bill that would cut
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and prepare America to be part of
an international agreement to fight global warming.
"Waxman undoubtedly would press more aggressively for
effective legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions," said
O'Donnell. "Dingell is the favorite of the K Street lobbyists
because they realize he will move more slowly, and not require
their companies to do as much on global warming."
Fossil-fueled vehicles, like those made in Dingell's
district, which includes Detroit, are key sources of greenhouse
gas carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming.
Dingell, the longest-serving member of the House, fought
for decades for breaks for the Big Three automakers, which are
now seeking emergency financial aid from Congress.
Dingell eventually joined the drive to force the industry
to build more efficient cars, and last year helped win passage
of legislation to increase fuel economy standards, but not as
much as Waxman and others wanted.
Ethan Siegal of the Washington Exchange, which tracks
Congress for institutional investors, said Waxman's harder edge
had long been noted.
"We see Dingell as a more pragmatic, deal-making liberal
with whom the business community can negotiate; and we see
Waxman as more of a classic take-no-prisoners liberal who tends
to go for the jugular."
Greenpeace praised Waxman's global warming plan to reduce
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020 and for the
long term by 80 percent by 2050.
Waxman previously sought to block the Environmental
Protection Agency from issuing permits for new coal-fired power
plants unless those facilities installed the best technology to
cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Waxman is a big supporter of renewable energy sources such
as wind and solar power and is a major critic of Big Oil. He
has also investigated the cozy relationship some oil companies
have had with Interior Department employees responsible for
overseeing drilling on federal lands.
(Additional reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by David
Wiessler and Peter Cooney)
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