Politics in our nation’s capitol stops for the death of almost no man—even if that man is the “Lion of the Senate,” one Senator Edward M. Kennedy. As most of this blog’s readers probably already know, Senator Kennedy passed away on Tuesday night after a 15-month battle with a very aggressive form of brain cancer. Senator Kennedy was the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee, or HELP committee as it is commonly known. With his passing and the health care bill dominating the summer news cycle, who will succeed him could have ripple effects through other committees—particularly the Senate Agriculture Committee.Senator Chris Dodd is the highest ranking democrat on the HELP committee behind Kennedy, so he is the natural choice to succeed Kennedy as the chair. Additionally, as Senator Kennedy was unable to work on the health care bill due to his illness, his friend Senator Dodd stepped up to usher a bill through the committee. However, the Washington Post quotes Dodd as stating "'I haven't given that a second's worth of thought . . . I really don't have an answer to that really."' If Dodd, who is already chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, which he would have to give up to chair the HELP committee, passes on the HELP Chairmanship, then next in line would be Senator Tom Harkin, and here is where the Ag Committee comes into play.
Senator Harkin is Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. If he accepted the gavel for the HELP committee he would have to give up his position as chair of the agricultural committee. While the most recent farm bill was passed in 2008, Harkin still represents a large agrarian state and the health care bill is certainly mired in controversy. So Harkin may pass too, but if he doesn’t, the agricultural committee is up for grabs.
According to the Congress Matters Online, the next three democratic senators in line for the Agriculture Committee Chairmanship already chair other influential committees. Senator Leahy chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Conrad chairs the Senate Budget Committee, and Senator Baucus chairs the Senate Finance Committee. That leaves Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas next in line to chair the Senate Agricultural Committee.
Senator Lincoln potentially faces a difficult re-election, though over a year out from Election Day is a lifetime in politics, and being Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee in an agrarian state like Arkansas certainly won’t hurt the senior senator from Arkansas’s chances for reelection. These are tough decisions for Senator’s Dodd and Harkin. The HELP committee is incredibly powerful, but as we have seen this summer, it can be incredibly challenging as well. Not that being the chair of any Senate committee is a walk in the park.
To read the Congress Matters story click here.
To read the Washington Post story click here.
Posted: 08/28/09
