Henry Waxman Gets Chair of House Energy & Commerce Committee Which Oversees FCC
On a 137-122 vote, Waxman dethroned Dingell from a post he has held as either chairman or ranking Democrat since 1981. He is the most prominent supporter of his home state's auto industry and has feuded with junior committee members, including Waxman, over efforts to impose fuel efficiency standards on cars.
"Seniority is important, but it should not be a grant of property rights to be chairman for three decades or more," Waxman told reporters after the vote.
Why is this important to you, TV fan? Because media consolidation is killing the business creatively, in my humble opinion, and Waxman is a fighter against said consolidation.
He's a fighter, period. Good guy to have in the role. Beware corporate media, he means business.
Nikki Finke on her blog today:
Dingell was seen as ridiculously friendly to the handful of moguls who maintain a stranglehold on the infotainment industry. Now there's hope LA's outspoken and fearless broadcasting critic uses the panel to crack down on Big Media's run amok power and manipulations. The public has never needed Waxman more than now.
Here here! Go Henry!
