Indiana's congressional clout would immediately diminish if Democrats take control of the House and Senate, a scenario that appears increasingly likely as Republicans struggle on multiple fronts.
Indiana -- at least initially -- stands to lose more committee chairmen than it would gain in a power switch because the delegation is now dominated by Republicans, many of whom have been in Washington long enough to head committees.
Sen. Richard Lugar, for example, would lose his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee if Democrats take control of the Senate. Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Monticello, would no longer head the House Veterans Affairs Committee if the GOP loses control of the House.
U.S. Reps. Dan Burton, R-Indianapolis, Mark Souder, R-Fort Wayne, and John Hostettler, R-Wadesville, would no longer run subcommittees under that scenario.
On the upside, Groppe sees Indiana's congressmen gaining two new leadership roles. Rep. Pete Visclosky (D) is likely to take over a panel that handles spending bills for energy and water projects. Groppe also speculates that Rep. Mike Pence (R) will gain a new leadership role as the GOP shuffles its leadership. Only one member of the congressional delegation gets no mention in Groppe's article--Rep. Julia Carson (D). That should tell folks something.
23 comments:
It's difficult to be in congress as long as she has been and have absolutely no leadership postitions on any committees. It's always been a concern of mine -- she may show up, but she doesn't actually *do* anything.
She'd have to show up to get noticed, oh I forgot, she did show up and get noticed when she wore a sweat suit and tennis shoes! Kind of makes you PROUD to be from Indiana!
That's alright, Eric Dickerson will win the 7th and then we will finally get some representation.
8:09 - obviously not. She's only sponsored/introduced 43 bills in 10 years .. well 9 because she did NOTHING in 2006.
Imagine if she were made chair of the House Banking Cmte? Eeegads. She'd interrupt Fed Chair Ben Bernanke's testimony and say she was looking for a little girl that was just in her lap eating her food.
Are we really concerned about people like Buyer, Hostetler, and Burton losing clout? I'm sure as hell not!
Gary, I get the feeling would like to see Bush maintain his rubber-stamp majorities in congress. Personally, I think it's time for dear leader to be put in check.
Jeff, I've said long ago that I thought the Rs would lose the House and deservedly so because they've become drunk with power, although I suspect some GLBTs aren't too happy with Pelosi's response to Lesley Stahl's gay marriage question last night on 60 Minutes. Maureen Groppe of the Star wrote the article, not me.
Sir hailstone, chair of the House Banking...I'm laughing so hard I'm CRYING here!!! A laugh is always a good way to start the day! Thank you.
Jeff, I personally am not looking for anyone to rubber stamp anything. I want to start with some representation. I want someone who is going to fight for Indiana.
Yes, because things here will be so much better with Barney Frank, John Dingell, Rahm Emmanuel, Nancy Pelosi, and Jesse Jackson Jr. in charge.
Rahm Emmanuel introducirá la legislación para permitir que México anexe Tejas, New México, y el Arizona.
Hell John Dingleberry wanted to turn the internet over to the phone companies and leave them as your only choice for internet service. Obvious pandering to the CWA and Ma Bell (aka SBC) there. In the vein as Cynthia McKinney he was randomly selected at the airport for "extra screening" and he got pissed off over it, claiming "I'm a CONGRESSMAN I don't need to be screened!" and "Do you know who I am?"
some person here displaying his facility in another language only confirms my suspicions that he learned both politics and Spanish from either Augusto Pinochet or Francisco Franco ...
And you learned from who? Hugo Chavez?
In an earlier congressional ranking pool of influence Julia Carson came out toward the bottom of the list.
Of the 50 members of congress who came into office at the SAME time as Julia most got ranked as having more influence than her. Even most of her fellow democrats have been put on more powerfull committes than Julia is currently on.
Now that is what I call representing your district.
To whomever thought that Julia would chair the House Banking Committee, thankfully, that won't happen. She's fourth or fifth on the seniority list, but she'd likely get a subcommittee chairmanship.
Which is scary.
This is the first election article I've seen Maureen write, and she must be taking her aggressiveness training from Matt Tully. This article could've been written sitting on the toilet in ten minutes. Nothing new, nothing fresh...stale, tired, typical Star.
Wishing for substantive politicla coverage...hoping against hope... more of this kind of journalistic drivel is all we'll likely get.
from whoM - time for some sortileges to learn basic English !
Needless to say, some folk around Congresslady Julia Carson have long grumbled about the paucity of coverage by Maureen Groppe of the 7th District Representative. Criticism is often muted because one does not engage in spats with those who buy ink by the barrel ...
I too read the story today but was not astonished by the conspicuous slighting again of Indianapolis' Congresswoman. It's par for their course!
Oh come one you are so blinded by partisanship you don't even see when you're beloved Julia is unloved by those who would be most likely to love Julia - the Main Stream Liberal Media.
9:29 - I'd say that incoming congresspeople that were elected to their first terms AFTER Julia's initial 1996 election have more influence and are getting more done than she has (yes HAS - just like Julia is a HAS BEEN!) in her 10 years in Congress.
Just as Mr. D sez - "Because a seat in Congress is a terrible thing to waste!"
Ok, look -- the point of the article was that Indiana would lose influence. Actually, I agree with Jeff-- getting Buyer out of the leadership of the House Veterans Affaors Comm-- would be a blessing to veterans. And on down the line.
Just removing Johnny Ho would make Indiana GAIN influence, as people would be less likely to see us as nutballs.
And SHE's right-- Pence would take a major step forward -- which would mean a step back in many ways for progressive thinking.
Now if you people who are carsonistas and dickersonascists will take it to another thread now and then.. we could have a serious debate about the TOPIC of the THREAD!!
What was Pelosi's response on 60 mins? I missed it.
From 60 minutes site:
(CBS - Leslie Stahl)
"You don't talk about those big liberal issues you used to fight for up here," Stahl remarks.
(Nancy Pelosi)
"I've never walked away from any of my positions. I take pride in them," the congresswoman replies.
Asked about gay marriage, Pelosi says, "Well, that's an issue that is not an issue that we're fighting about here."
Sorry, here is the link:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/20/60minutes/main2111089.shtml
Do you really think the future Speaker will be baited into saying something about gay marriage amendments, two weeks out?
She'd be stupid to fuel that fire.
And she is not stupid.
Compared to the activist agenda pushed by the incumbent, she'll be Speaker Lite. In more ways than one.
"from whoM - time for some sortileges to learn basic English !"
I know basic English. What about you, jackass? Don't you have anything better to do than to correct people's English in between cesspool swimming and dumpster diving.
Don't forget your goggles and snorkel. A towel would be helpful too.
AnonyMice give me no nightmares - just watch out for the rat baits!
LOL I had to read here that there are rat baits in dumpsters. I had no idea. I have no reason to know.
And look who knew!
You might take a look here I checked out an objective website ranking the "power rankings" of Congresspeople. Why your Ms. Carson only ranks 360 of 435. She's outranked by freshmen, 2nd, and 3rd term congressmen and completely blown out of the water by the other Indiana Dem in Congress, Pete Visclosky. A cellar dweller and after 10 years only 43 bills introduced. And you Carsonistas really think she will improve this time?
Pitiful. Simply pitiful.
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