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Harkin Getting HELP Chairmanship, Lincoln Taking Agriculture
Eric Kleefeld | September 9, 2009, 2:30PM
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
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Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) will reportedly be taking over the chairmanship of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee -- which was vacated by the death of Ted Kennedy -- after Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) declined to take the post.
This was a widely-expected move after Dodd turned down the position, as Harkin was next in line in seniority.
Another key development here in the committee shuffle is that Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) will take over Harkin's chairmanship of the Agriculture Committee -- which could potentially give her a real boost as she goes into a tough re-election fight in 2010. Lincoln would be better positioned to argue that she can advocate for her rural state's interest.
On the other hand, Lincoln's move to the Agriculture gavel could also be bad news for climate change legislation.
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Walter Mitty
September 9, 2009 2:49 PM
She'd not going to get re-elected anyways. She's catering to Republicans too much and it will keep Democratic votes at home. She's already a vote against the public option and now she's going to be fighting to water down climate change legislation?
Who would replace her at Ag if she doesn't get re-elected?
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johnmccsf
September 9, 2009 6:57 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
The AG Chair adds 5+% to Blanche's vote if not more. The Democrats won't stay home. This is ARKANSAS.
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Lynn Dee
September 9, 2009 2:52 PM
Hmm. Any chance this will be good for health care reform with the public option? That is, could the fact that Blanche Lincoln can point to her AgCommittee chairmanship mean she can afford to be less of a spineless blue dog about health care?
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VictorLH
September 9, 2009 3:52 PM
Anyone think Lincoln's chair is a payoff for a Health Care vote? At the least a vote for cloture?
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JohnW1141
September 9, 2009 3:56 PM
Christ, Red State Blanche Lincoln with the chairmanship of an important committee. Red State Democrats, whether in leadership or chairing committees is not good for the Democratic Party.
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erichayes
September 9, 2009 6:03 PM in reply to JohnW1141
" . . . not good for the Democratic Party", hell. Try "not good for the COUNTRY".
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theone718
September 9, 2009 5:31 PM
Look. ANYTHING that passes the Senate for climate change will be a good thing. It was reported the ACES bill as compromised as it was gives us 3 dollars for every dollar we spend on it. 3 DOLLARS. Come one now folks, I don't give a fuck what passes as long as something is in place for ACES.
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