Changing Faces on Capitol Hill and in the Administration

Although it has been just one week since the election, there is already considerable talk in Washington about changes in key positions on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. Here is the latest speculation:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

The ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT Appropriations Subcommittee will have both a new chairman and ranking minority member because of the retirement of John Myers (R-IN) and Tom Bevill (D-AL). It is too early to predict who might be the next chairman. While House Democrats relied on seniority in determining chairmen, Speaker Gingrich selected the committee chairs at the beginning of the last Congress. Harold Rogers (R-KY) now has seniority on this subcommittee, but he is already chairman of the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Subcommittee. On the Democratic side, Vic Fazio (D-CA) will be the Ranking Minority Member. It is not uncommon for Members to change their assignments, although few leave the appropriations committee because of its vast power. One thing to watch for is if the new leadership continues the strong bipartisan approach that has characterized past subcommittee deliberations.

Two other key appropriations subcommittees, VA, HUD, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES, and COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE experienced no leadership turnover. As indicated above, Rogers might be faced with a decision between leading the commerce or energy subcommittees.

With the retirement of HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE chairman Bob Walker (R-PA), seniority indicates that James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) should ascend to the chairmanship. While Sensenbrenner can be a forceful individual, the committee should become less contentious in the 105th Congress. A week after the election, a final vote count for Ranking Minority Member George Brown (D-CA) is still not complete. Ralph Hall (D-TX) follows Brown as the senior Democratic member.

Chairmanship assignments are expected to be made next week.

SENATE:

The ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT; VA, HUD, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES; and COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE Appropriations Subcommittees retained their Republican chairmen. Energy subcommittee Ranking Minority Member J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA), who often spoke of his fondness for science, is retiring. Following him in seniority are Robert Byrd (D-WVA) and Ernest Hollings (D-SC).

The SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SPACE retains its Republican and Democratic leadership. Full commerce committee chairman Larry Pressler (R-SD) was defeated; next in seniority is Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

ADMINISTRATION:

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY: It is all but official that Secretary Hazel O’Leary will depart. There has been speculation that she might be replaced by current EPA Administrator Carol Browner, Deputy Attorney General Jamie S. Gorelick, Rep. Bill Richardson (D-NM), or Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE: Secretary Mickey Kantor would reportedly like to move on to another position or return to his law practice.

There is little firm information about any other science-related position turnover in the administration.