Pallone Prevails Against Pelosi Backed Eshoo

Congressman Frank Pallone was elected ranking Democratic member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee this morning in a 100-90 vote by the entire Democratic Caucus, according to Roll Call.

He defeated California Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, who had been backed for the post by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Both Eshoo and Pallone downplayed speculation that the result was a result of Democratic discontent with Pelosi who was reelected Minority Leader yesterday.

But fellow New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell is quoted indicated that Pelosi overdid it in support of her friend and fellow Californian:

“One can make the argument that she overdid it,” Pascrell said. “One may make the argument that she overdid in terms of the letter she sent out, on the other hand, she had every right to do it — she didn’t break any laws.”

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House Democratic Caucus To Choose Between Eshoo and Pallone This Morning

Congressman Frank Pallone 

Congressman Frank Pallone will either be anointed into the elite class of legislative chairmen and ranking members this morning or remain a congressional back bencher as his campaign to replace Henry Waxman as the highest ranking Democrat on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee comes to a close.

Pallone lost the endorsement of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee yesterday to California Congresswoman Anna Eshoo but secured enough votes to force the choice to the entire caucus. The leadership committee is dominated by allies of Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who favors her friend Eshoo to lead Energy and Commerce.  The 39-19 tally gave Pallone 14 more votes than he needed to get a ballot with the entire caucus. As a backup, Pallone had a petition signed by 53 Democratic members of congress which would also have forced the caucus ballot, according to Roll Call.

The caucus vote is scheduled for 8:30 this morning, according to Roll Call.

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Pallone’s Status Is On The Line This Week

House Democrats won’t let pregnant Iraqi war veteran vote by proxy

Congressman Frank Pallone cruised to reelection easily earlier this month, but the race he’s been waging since February for a key leadership post in the Democratic Minority of the House of Representatives will come to a head on Tuesday, November 18.

Pallone is battling California Congressman Anna Eshoo for the ranking position on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The retirements of Henry Waxman and John Dingle made the coveted position available. Pallone is the next in line for the job, based upon seniority, but Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in backing her California colleague Eshoo who, as At-Large Democratic Whip, has been part of Pelosi’s leadership team since 2003.

Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer, the # 2 Democratic Leader in the House, backs Pallone for the position.

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Pelosi endorses Pallone’s opponent for leadership spot

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has passed over Congressman Frank Pallone and thrown her support to Congresswoman Anna Eshoo of California in the internal Democratic caucus campaign to select the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, according to a report at TheHill.com.

Eshoo, who has served two terms in the House less than Pallone, is currently the fifth ranking Democrat on the committee.  Pallone is the third ranking Democrat, behind Chairman Henry Waxman and John Dingell.  Both Waxman and Dingell are retiring at the end of the 113th Congress.

In a letter to House Democrats, Pelosi said she’d intended to steer clear of making a public endorsement, “but since so many of you have asked, I am writing to let you know why I support Anna.”

“Anna’s leadership is marked by integrity, inclusiveness and bipartisanship, critical qualities in a committee leader,” Pelosi wrote. “She advocates in the committee and in the House for healthcare, consumer protections, the environment and access to technology and issues related to women and children.

“Anna’s leadership, vision, values and progressive commitment to the future gives us the opportunity to newly invigorate the debate,” Pelosi added.

Since being sworn into Congress in 1987, six bills that Pallone has sponsored have become law. One of the bills was to name the post office on Route 35 in Middletown. Does anyone know the name of that post office?

Eshoo has sponsored 234 bills that have become law.

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