Jeff Hennie,
Vice President Government Relations and Public Affairs
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
This was the first real week of work for the Congress in this already puzzling lame duck session. The House had some fireworks on the Democratic side, as did the Senate.
First the House: The Energy and Commerce committee has vast jurisdiction over several seemingly odd issues, such as health care, telecommunication, food safety, etc. According to the website for the committee, they are “the oldest standing committee, with the broadest jurisdiction” and that “the history of the committee is the story of American prosperity and opportunity”. Energy and Commerce, or E&C, is a powerful, maybe the most powerful committee, in the House. So it makes sense that two high-ranking Democratic members were both fighting for the top Democratic seat on the committee, known as ranking member. The back and forth started in August when it was clear that the Republicans would indeed keep the majority in the House. Two contenders emerged: In one corner we have Frank Pallone, a New Jerseyan who is finishing his 14th term, and in the other, Anna Eshoo, an 11-termer from California. Pallone is the more centrist of the two, but not by much. However, Pallone is a behind-the-scenes supporter of motorcycling. He won't ever be the poster child for us, but he will not come at us. I can't say the same for Eshoo. The fight rose to Pelosi level, with the former speaker backing longtime friend and fellow California woman Eshoo. Victory was Pallone's, so we should enjoy a friendly E&C committee this next Congress.
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The Senate showdown took place on the Senate floor. Backstory: Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who is serving out her third term, is in the political race of her life. She is from a family who has been serving in Louisiana politics since 1960. her return to the Senate was imminent, and a fourth term seemed all but hers – a true legacy. That is, until a pesky reporter started sniffing around this summer and found rock solid evidence that Landrieu did not live in Louisiana, exactly. She was part owner of an estate that was split amongst her eight siblings, and all enjoy the same share of the modest bungalow in New Orleans. In reality, she lives in D.C. in a $2.5 million mansion on Capitol Hill, and stays in hotels when campaigning back in Louisiana. Her race was not decided on election night because the three way split caused none of the candidates to garner the needed fifty percent plus. So the top two candidates, Landrieu and Republican opponent Representative Bill Cassidy will face each other on December 6th. Cassidy is the favorite by a large margin.
Harry Reid also did something he has refused to do for years - hold a vote on the Kestone XL pipeline approval. Why, you ask? To give Landrieu some political cover with a big win for the energy industry, a dominating force in Louisiana. It did not work, the vote failed by one vote. Dick Durbin (D-IL) refused to vote yes after telling leadership that he would; Durbin coasted to reelection earlier this month, so his flip-flop was a head scratcher. His reason? He was late. Durbin agreed to support the measure in order to help Landrieu. His mind changed when he was the very last senator to make it to the floor. Ninety-nine other senators had already voted with bill set to pass 59-40. Durbin would have been the 60th yea vote. He didn't want to be the guy that tipped Keystone pipeline over the edge. So he voted no, thus resulting in a messy defeat for team Reid-Landrieu, and certain guarantee that this will be up early in the 114th Congress.
Another troubling move came from our president last night. His sweeping immigration actions are seen by some as usurp in congress. I'll leave that to the constitutional lawyers. But if it was legal for him to do, why now? Why not six years ago? If it's so broken, why leave it on the to do list for so long? This action raises more questions than it answers. Be prepared for a knock-down drag out fight between Congress and the White House on this one, and probably every one for the next two years.