As Republicans prepare to claim the spoils of their recent victory, some of their top House members are feuding over who gets the biggest trophies. No race is more competitive -- or ugly -- than the competition to be chairman of the Energy & Commerce Committee.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, is running a no-holds-barred campaign to chair the committee, one of the most powerful in Congress. His competition: Rep. Fred Upton, a moderate Republican from Michigan.
The latest salvo: a 22-page memo that selectively savages Upton's voting record on taxes, spending bills, TARP, federal regulations, and energy. Barton has denied he or his staff authored the memo. But many House Republican aides and lobbyists think it came from Barton or his committee aides, given the memo's incredible detail (who else has time to put together a 22-page memo that describes dozens of votes?) Here's some highlights:
- Voted Against Extending the Bush Tax Cuts: In 2005, Congressman Upton was one of only three Republicans to vote against extending the Bush tax cuts on capital gains and dividends, even though these tax cuts were projected to save taxpayers $80.5 billion over 10 years.
- Voted for the Financial Services Industry Bailout...Twice. Congressman Upton voted to bail out the financial services industry both times: As one of 65 Republicans who voted for the first attempt, which failed, and one of 91 Republicans who voted for the second attempt, which passed.
- Voted for Federal Regulation of Light Bulbs and for Increased Regulation of the Energy Industry. In 2007, Congressman Upton was one of 26 Republicans to join Democrats and provide the votes needed for passage of the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act. Among other things, this bill regulates lights and appliances (effectively banning the incandescent light bulb), created new programs for alternative energy sources, imposed more regulations on energy companies, and mandated vastly increased use of renewable energy.
That bit about the light bulb attracted the attention of Rush Limbaugh, who last week criticized Upton on his radio show: "This is exactly the kind of nannyism, statism, what have you, that was voted against and was defeated last week. No Republican complicit in nannyism, statism, can be rewarded this way. But seniority may rule the day."
Glenn Beck took it a step further, calling Upton a "socialist," according to a radio station in Upton's district.
Limbaugh's and Beck's criticism of Upton can't help the Michigan lawmaker's chances to chair the panel. (An Upton spokesman didn't immediately reply to a request for comment made via phone and email). At a minimum, their remarks may boost Barton's chances to get a waiver to chair the committee (GOP rules bar any member from being the party's top member on a committee for more than 3 consecutive terms). Barton argues the rules don't bar him from chairing the panel again, but Republican leaders appear to disagree with him.
Keep watching. All of this is building toward a vote of the Republican Steering Committee, which decides the chairmen of individual committees. The Steering Committee is likely to vote on the chairmen positions after lawmakers return from the Thanksgiving holiday, according to Republican leadership aides.
UPDATE, 2:22 pm: Upton formally announced his candidacy to be chairman early this afternoon, sending a letter to House Republicans that outlines his agenda. Additionally, he's getting support from high-profile conservatives such as Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, who co-authored a Politico op-ed with Upton that discusses the need to reduce federal spending.
Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/11/race-between-joe-barton-and-co.html
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