Last week Republicans in Congress began in earnest enjoying the fruits of November's elections.
Republican chairmen took control of the House commerce committee-for the first time in 15 years it is not the energy and commerce committee-and the Senate energy and natural resources committee.
NEW CHAIRMEN
Rep. Thomas Bliley Jr. (R-Va.) will chair the full House commerce panel while Rep. Dan Schaefer (R-Colo.) will run the energy and power subcommittee, where most oil and gas legislation is drafted. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) will chair the oversight and investigations subcommittee.
Bliley and former chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.), now the ranking minority member, affably pledged their mutual support and admiration-then immediately clashed over funding for the Democratic minority staff.
Bliley has not set an agenda, but the committee is likely to consider Superfund reform and transportation of hazardous wastes legislation early.
Bliley described himself as "probusiness" but warned, "Not all activities by business are proper or legal, and it is the job of this committee to monitor those activities. The corporate interest will not be lifted above the interest of the community."
Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) assumed the chair of the House resources-formerly natural resources-committee, which oversees legislation regarding the use of federal lands.
Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) will lead the subcommittee that will assume most of the offshore leasing functions of the former merchant marine committee.
In the Senate, where Republicans and Democrats are less adversarial than in the House, the transition was placid.
When Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) took control of the energy and natural resources committee, he even pledged to continue the agenda of outgoing chairman Bennett Johnston (D-La.). Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.) will chair the energy production and regulation subcommittee.
Murkowski is expected to focus the full committee on nuclear waste issues but also plans a review of the national energy strategy. And he is likely to push his bill to allow Alaskan North Slope crude oil exports.
In the government affairs committee, chairman Bill Roth (R-Del.) plans hearings this month on "rightsizing" the federal government. His proposal includes eliminating or reorganizing the Interior and Energy departments.
JOHNSTON TO DEPART
Oil lobbyists were disappointed when Johnston announced he will retire in 1996 at the end of his current term.
Johnston, a senator for 22 years, has chaired the energy committee the past 8 years.
His departure continues an erosion of the oil industry's influence in the Senate. Industry stalwart Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.) quit 2 years ago and David Boren (D-Okla.) and Malcolm Wallop (R-Wyo.) made their exits last fall.
The Independent Petroleum Association of America called Johnston "a true leader whose experience and knowledge of the industry are of extreme importance. The independent oil and gas producers of this country will miss him."
Copyright 1995 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
