Henry Waxman

This is a huge victory for the environment:

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) will become the next chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee after House Democrats voted to replace current Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.).

Waxman won 137-122 in the secret ballot vote.

The dramatic intra-party showdown for the coveted position signals a leftward turn for the Democratic agenda. The outcome was a blow to the seniority system and a victory, at least in perception, for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Dingell is very close to the auto industry, meaning he is very far from the environment move. He is considered a foe of global warming. Now he is out and we have someone heading the very important committee, when it comes to global warming, that is an advocate for higher fuel standards and lower emissions. Change is a brewing.

This is legislation we really need passed, and Waxman is considering it:

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who has primary jurisdiction over the executive branch, is considering legislation to eliminate Karl Rove-type advisers in future administrations.

The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hints broadly that such a bill could ban the use of federal funds to finance such a politically partisan office.

“Why should we be using taxpayer dollars to have a person solely in charge of politics in the White House?” Waxman said in an interview. “Can you imagine the reaction if each member of Congress had a campaign person paid for with taxpayer dollars?”

But other governments have done this in the past? I know of one government that had paid political officers in every part of government, and the military. That government was the Soviet Union. Isn't that the goal of the GOP - to make us more like the commies? Look at the legislation and way they govern. It sure seems like it.

Factual statement by Henry Waxman, but also one that comes as no surprise:

e chairman of a House committee said a White House spokesman's statements Thursday in the controversy over missing e-mail conflict with what congressional staffers were told four months ago.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., scheduled a hearing and challenged the White House to explain spokesman Tony Fratto's remark that "we have absolutely no reason to believe that any e-mails are missing."

When has this administration been straight with Congress or the American people? Every week we hear about new lies they tell in order to promote their own agenda. Perhaps instead of saying they are lying it is time to take action for their lies. This country deserves transparency by the White House and Congress must insure that it is there.