Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd has indicated he will not take over the chairmanship of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee following the passing of his good friend, Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
If Sen. Dodd is staying at the Banking Committee, then Senator Tom Harkin would be next in line to chair the HELP Committee. However, taking on the HELP chairmanship would put Sen. Harking smack in the middle of the most controversial domestic issue confounding our Capitol’s legislators. Additionally, Sen. Harkin would have to give up the Senate Agricultural Committee gavel. This may be too much for the Senator from Iowa to swallow as climate change legislation that could have a major impact on the future of ethanol production, renewable energy production, and agricultural production methods is also on the Senate agenda. However, Harkin already pushed through the latest Farm Bill last year, and so he may feel he’s done all he can in the Agriculture Committee and it’s time to move on. Further, Harkin is known for interest in health issues, and this would be an opportunity to stamp his name on another piece of national legislation that affects every American.
This leaves the Agriculture Committee open, and it is appearing more and more likely that Senator Blanche Lincoln (AR) may be poised to take the helm. While Lincoln has three other Ag panel senators ahead of her in terms of committee seniority, these senators are currently chairs of other committees. First, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont is seen as unlikely to give up his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee for the Agriculture Committee, despite the struggles the dairy industry in his state is facing. Likewise, neither Sens. Kent Conrad nor Max Baucus appear likely to give up the chairmanships of the Senate Budget and Finance Committees, respectively.
That leaves Senator Lincoln next in line. Arkansas is an agrarian state that is among the leaders in the country in terms of broilers production, rice production, cotton production, and soybean production. Clearly, being chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee would put Lincoln in a good position to take care of her state’s agricultural interests.
Senator Dodd is expected to make an announcement of his intentions today, September 9, 2009.
To read the Washington D.C. newspaper, The Politico’s story on the potential for Musical Committee Chairs to be played click here.
Posted: 09/09/09
