The ripple effect of voters' choices in last Tuesday's midterm elections are being felt everywhere.
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The return of a Democratic majority to the U.S. House of Representatives has poised a pair of Downriver congressman for seats leading two of the most powerful committees in the nation's capital.
Across the nation, in races ranging from state legislatures and gubernatorial contests to the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, Democrats were the predominant choice of voters, who cast out the Republican majority.
For U.S. Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-14th District) and John Dingell (D-15th District), whether they would be returned to their seats was not much in question. What was in question, however, was the impact their wins would have if the congressional tables turned.
With Democrats now in charge of the House, that question appears to have been answered.
The two men, along with U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick (D-13th District), represent district's that include the Downriver area. Cheeks-Kilpatrick also was re-elected.
On Jan. 3, Dingell likely will return to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee after a 12-year absence. He previously chaired the committee from 1981 to 1995.
In a conversation with reporters last Wednesday, Dingell said one of the party's leading priorities is "changing the tone of the debate in Washington," and fulfilling the Democratic Party's commitment to taking the country in a "new direction."
He has said that topping the Democrats' agenda will be seeking a resolution to the war in Iraq.
On specific policy issues, Dingell frequently demurred, saying, "We'll have to see."
When asked if he would investigate past, controversial Bush administration energy policy decisions — specifically the Bush-Cheney Energy Task Force — Dingell said the Republicans have "sort of been stiffing everyone."
He added, however, that while "the matter is of interest, it may be a matter of historical interest."
Moving forward toward energy independence, Dingell echoed the hope of many Midwesterners that the nation's oil dependence be assuaged by ethanol fuel, but he also emphasized a less popular energy issue: disposal of nuclear waste.
"This country is not moving forward to (develop adequate) storage of nuclear waste at a time when this is the most promising alternative to weaning ourselves off oil," he said.
Dingell also said he will actively pursue reform of Medicare Part D, or the prescription drug plan.
Currently, he said, there is "strong evidence" the government is overpaying private providers charged with the care of Medicare recipients.
"If the overpayment is as large as it appears to be, that would be a beginning toward filling the doughnut hole," he said, tapping a metaphor commonly used to describe people who pay for drug insurance as well as the full amount of their prescriptions.
He also said he would like to make generic drugs more accessible.
Closer to home, Dingell also said foreign currency manipulation and unfair trade practices in Asia are hurting American manufacturing, and specifically the auto industry.
The Bush administration has done little to protect the country's manufacturers against unfair trade, he said. As chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, his first hearings might be on that issue.
Like Dingell, Conyers also will return to Washington and likely assume a chairmanship — of the House Judiciary Committee.
Conyers could not be reached for comment, but in published reports he said it was "very clear" the ongoing war in Iraq swung voters away from the Republican Party.
Some pundits have suggested that a Conyers' chairmanship might usher in a censuring or impeachment of the president. He and others have said in the months leading up to the election, however, that discussion of impeachment was not on the table.
Conyers also led a re-count effort in Ohio, where, in the last national election in 2004, there were widespread accusations of voter fraud. As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, he can coordinate investigations into alleged voting irregularities in this election.
For the Democratic Party, chairmanships are decided by seniority in a committee. In the House, no one has served longer than Conyers and Dingell.
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