Waxman Wins Battle for Key Chairmanship

Rep. Henry Waxman was successful in his bid to remove another Democrat, Rep. John Dingell, from his position as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Dingell, the most senior member of the House, represents Michigan, the automaker's state while Waxman gains his constitutency from California, which has been battling the EPA and automakers to set even greater emissions reductions and efficiency increases.

The vote was close, 137-122, and signals a significant increase in California's Capitol Hill power.