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The top two Democratic leaders in the House are expected to vote for different lawmakers to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee in the next Congress.
Both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) have taken neutral public stances in the high-profile contest between Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) and his challenger, Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.).
But lawmakers, aides and lobbyists following the race believe that Pelosi will vote for Waxman and Hoyer will back Dingell when the vote takes place later this week.
“I just know Steny and he’s not the type of person to push a person out of his chairmanship when he has performed as John has. I just know his values,” said Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), who is supporting Dingell.
Kildee cited Dingell’s record of accomplishment as chairman in the 110th Congress. He noted that Dingell played a leading role in crafting legislation to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and helped stop a 10 percent pay cut for physicians who serve Medicare patients.
Many Dingell supporters are convinced that Pelosi will ultimately support Waxman.
That perception is strengthened by the role Education and Labor panel Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) has played on behalf of Waxman. Miller, one of Pelosi’s closest advisers, has called lawmakers to urge their support for Waxman, although Pelosi aides stress he hasn’t used the Speaker’s name in those conversations.
Others on Capitol Hill say that mentioning the Speaker’s name is unnecessary because Democratic lawmakers know how strong the Miller-Pelosi relationship is.
“It’s hard to imagine that as a Californian she’s not going to support Waxman,” said a Democratic lobbyist close to Dingell.
Another Democratic lawmaker backing Dingell said: “I think Henry’s candidacy is based on the perception that Nancy wants him to be the chairman.”
A Democratic aide allied with Waxman said many House aides take the view that Pelosi will likely vote for Waxman and that Hoyer will side with Dingell on Thursday, when the caucus is expected to vote on the issue.
Waxman has not released nearly as many of his supporters’ names as has Dingell. Several lawmakers who are known to back Waxman declined requests for comment.
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