Progressive Mandate At Work: Waxman Named House Energy Chair

Last week, the progressive mandate was felt in the Senate, as right-leaning Democratic Senator Max Baucus proposed legislation to guarantee health care for all. [1]

Today, the progressive mandate was felt in the House, as the Democratic caucus voted 137-122 [2] to remove longtime global warming skeptic Rep. John Dingell as chair of the House energy committee, in favor of environmental champion Rep. Henry Waxman. [3]

The close vote should not be interpreted as a sign of deep ideological division on the environment -- though some differences certainly remain -- but a victory for the public interest in passing strong global warming legislation [4] over the self-interest of protecting an inflexible seniority system for key congressional posts. [5]

Democratic caucus members clearly felt the unmistakable progressive mandate for urgent and bold action, in order to junk House traditions today. With great public demand for ending our dependence on oil, averting a climate crisis and building a clean energy economy, congresspeople recognized that there will be no excuses if they don't get it done.

And most importantly, they rejected the nonsensical argument [6] that you needed a chair who was closer to conservatives and corporations on environmental matters in order to get anything passed.

To get things passed, you need effective legislation that generates strong public backing to overcome special interest-backed obstruction.

Waxman showed his commitment to strong legislation [3]. Dingell constantly needed to be pushed and dragged to do anything remotely helpful, and the caucus recognized that was not going to satisfy the progressive mandate.

Yesterday, the incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said [7] President-Elect Obama will "throw long and deep" [8] to solve the major crises facing America including energy.

Today, the House named someone who will catch the ball.

UPDATE: I think the blogosphere just exploded.

FireDogLake's Jane Hamsher: [9] "This is a huge defeat for the Blue Dogs, who were hoping to use Dingell as a roadblock to keep any meaningful change from happening with regard to issues under the Committee's jurisdiction -- telecommunications and health care, energy and environmental protection, interstate commerce and consumer protection."

Calitics' David Dayen: [10] "Waxman's Safe Climate Act sets the targets needed to mitigate the worst effects of global warming. It now becomes the working document in the House for anti-global warming legislation. And his constituency doesn't include a major polluting industry."

Washington Independent's Mike Lillis: [11] "...could prove vital to the Obama administration’s energy-policy successes..."

Huffington Post's Pete Cenedella: [12] "Feel the balance of power shifting in the American energy debate? ... It's not a stretch to say that the Big 3's woes, and their woeful appearance yesterday seeking a taxpayer handout, may have loomed large in Democrats' decision today to consign Dingell to the junkyard."

New Republic's Brad Plumer: [13] "Waxman won because Democrats are increasingly focused on global warming and think now is the time to act, to make a decisive break from the do-nothing approach of the Bush administration"

Washington Monthly's Steve Benen: [14] "Just as Daschle and Baucus have made reform of the healthcare system more likely, Waxman's new committee chairmanship makes a meaningful energy bill more likely."

Folo: [15] "Bucket up, kids, we’re going places!"

Beyond Green: [16] "It's a whole new day, folks."

Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall: [17] "Holy Crap."

Mother Jones' Kevin Drum: [18] "This is change we can believe in."

OpenLeft's Matt Stoller: [19] "Cue conservative whining."