Capitol intrigue: Blackburn passed over and Cooper wins in coup [1]
Not all of the political intrigue involving Tennessee politicians is taking place within state lines.
Congressman Marsha Blackburn was passed over last night for the much-coveted position as chair of the Republican Study Committee while Congressman Jim Cooper and a group of renegade colleagues ousted a colleague from a powerful congressional committee.
Blackburn has been seeking the nomination of GOP leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives to head up the Republican Study Committee, a powerful 90-member caucus in Washington that has played a significant role in shaping GOP policy. The group has steadily been gaining more prestige due to its growing numbers while the overall GOP caucus has shrunk in the past two elections.
Founders of the group have nominated Georgia Congressman Tom Price over Blackburn, who has said that she will not dispute the nomination when members of the study group vote.
Meanwhile, on the Democratic side of the aisle, Cooper has racked up a win in what was basically a palace coup.
Congressman Henry Waxman of California ousted Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell of Michigan, as Democratic lawmakers voted 137-122 this morning to hand the gavel of the powerful committee to the California congressman.
Dingell had been seen by many lawmakers as an impediment to changing laws related to protecting the environment and was perceived by many to be overly friendly to the nation's Big Three automakers.
Cooper was one of several congressman actively involved in challenging Dingell in favor of Waxman, a risky move that, now that it's been pulled off, further increases Cooper's influence in Washington.
Reached by NashvillePost.com this morning, Cooper's office issued the following statement from the congressman: "I'm pleased that my colleagues elected Henry Waxman to be the next chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. I've worked with Henry for many years. He's a gifted legislator, he understands policy in detail, and he's not afraid to work across the aisle. That's why he has a long record of achievement in the House. I was happy to serve as a whip in this effort. Having Henry in charge of the Energy and Commerce Committee puts Congress in a stronger position to make the changes Americans demanded in this election."
- Politics [2]
- Washington, D.C. [3]
- Henry Waxman [4]
- James Hayes Shofner 'Jim' Cooper [5]
- John Dingell [6]
- Marsha W. Blackburn [7]
- Tom Price [8]
- Politics: Federal government [9]