Waxman's Victory Signals Major Changes Ahead for U.S. Energy Policy

Rep. Henry Waxman (CA-30) won his bid to unseat longtime chairman, Rep, John Dingell (MI-15), of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee last Thursday. Waxman, a staunch environmentalist representing the Beverly Hills and Malibu suburbs of Los Angeles, figures to bring a far more aggressive push for climate change legislation than his automotive-supporting predecessor. Charlie McCrudden at ACCA provided a nice overview of where a Waxman-led Energy and Commerce Committee could be headed in his blog.

HARDI members might recall that it was Henry Waxman who had introduced a bill in 2007 that would have mandated a levy on virgin refrigerants to help encourage refrigerant recovery.

Interestingly, the Wall St. Journal's John Fund notes some hypocrisy in the party's vote that gave Rep. Waxman the chairmanship.