Barrett Likely Frontrunner for Energy & Commerce Seat
Rep. Dennis Hastert resignation from Congress will leave a vacant on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. Sources close to the situation are now indicating that Gresham Barrett is the frontrunner for receiving a position on this “A-List” committee.
There are several reasons to believe this is true. First, Rep. Barrett actually served on Energy and Commerce as a temporary appointment when Roy Blunt took over as Majority Whip (currently Minority Whip) back in 2005. He didn’t serve long, but he was on the committee. So, it stands to reason he is still next in line. Secondly, at a fundraiser for Barrett, Minority Leader John Boehner said publicly, that Barrett was his number one choice for the Energy and Commerce Committee. Finally, Barrett enjoys a close relationship with the ranking Republican on the committee, Rep. Joe Barton (TX). The relationship is so close that Barrett and Barton attended a Clemson Football game together last year.
While Hastert has already delivered his farewell floor speech, he has yet to give his letter of resignation to the Governor of Illinois. When he does a vacancy will officially be created, and members of the House Republican Steering Committee (not to be confused with the group Sen. DeMint leads) will meet to select Hastert’s replacement. Insiders have indicated this vote will likely take place in December. Minority Leader Boehner’s endorsement means a lot in this process since his vote carries extra weight in the RSC meeting.
This is pretty big news for our state. The last person serve on the committee from South Carolina was the famed segregationist Albert W. Watson in 1971. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has developed what is arguably the broadest (non-tax-oriented) jurisdiction of any Congressional committee. Their legislative oversight includes telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health, air quality, environmental health, energy, interstate commerce and foreign trade.
It now appears that heading into 2010 Barrett will be a very powerful man, and surely a force to be reckoned with.