Healthcare Reform: Waxman vs. Dingell — Round 1

By Thomas Sullivan On Nov 15, 2008

Everyone loves a good fight. The morning after the election, Henry Waxman (CA) announced he is taking on Chairman John Dingell (MI) for the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce committee.

House Energy and Commerce is the committee where the healthcare reform legislation will go through. Waxman is a progressive liberal, where Dingell is considered more of a moderate.

This week Congressman Dingell sent the Obama transition team a letter outlining his commitment to healthcare reform, part of the reason for a letter to let the Obama team know that if he stays chairman, they have his promise for cooperation on this issue.

This is huge, as it is not typical for a congressman to take on a committee leader especially after a big win by their party. If this is not successful it could mean political suicide for Congressman Waxman. It also, means that this move will force Dingell to the left on issues such as healthcare and energy to retain his Chairmanship.

Speaker Pelosi has not discouraged Waxman from running, though she has remained silent on the issue and some think this is a tacit endorsement of Congressman Waxman. (She endorsed Dingell’s primary opponent in 2002) I don’t think there is much “Love” there even though the speaker is from San Francisco.

If Waxman wins it could signal the beginning of the end of the Democratic Caucus, as more moderate members may say to themselves, if this can happen to a member as powerful and effective as Congressman Dingell it could easily happen to me.

For healthcare a Waxman chairmanship would offer significantly more restrictive regulations, Medicare direct negotiation of drug prices, Three year Moratorium on DTC advertising, and probably the elimination of tax exemption for healthcare marketing expenses. With Congressman Waxman at the helm of Energy and Commerce, prospects for Pharma are even bleaker.

The fight will be this coming week in the House Democrat Steering and Policy Committee which is expected to meet on Wednesday, November 19th. Whoever looses can appeal the vote to the full Democratic Caucus on Thursday November 20^th, both groups use a secret ballot.