The Republican Steering Committee last Tuesday selected Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, bringing to a close the bitter power struggle for the top seat. The entire House Republican Conference seconded the vote last Wednesday.

Upton, who is chairman of the Committee’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee, edged out Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX), John Shimkus (R-IL) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL) to head up the panel, which oversees major energy, environmental and commerce issues.

Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), the presumptive chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, is trying to snag jurisdiction on energy issues away from the House energy panel and combine it into one committee — the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee (see NGI, Nov. 29). However, he hasn’t been able to motivate Republican leaders to go along with his power grab, Politico reported.

Upton pledged to stand “should to shoulder” with incoming House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and House Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and the entire Republican Conference to “repeal Obamacare, fight rampant job-killing regulations, cut spending and help put folks back to work.” He did not address any specific energy issues.

However, prior to the vote, Upton called on the Obama administration to support drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He also vowed to “exert tireless oversight of the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and stop implementation of a carbon regulation system.”

Even before the Republican Steering Committee announced the results of its vote, many believed that Upton was the odds-on favorite to win.

There was some speculation that Barton might appeal the committee’s selection to the House Republican Conference. “That would be an unpopular decision. The Steering Committee likes to see its decisions respected,” said Martin Edwards, vice president of legislative affairs for the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America.

But the speculation was laid to rest when Barton immediately congratulated Upton on being tapped as chairman. “He has an enormous job ahead, and I’m going to do everything I know how to make his chairmanship the kind of success that the American people want and expect,” Barton said.

Barton has been a member of the House energy panel for 24 of his 26 years in the House. He was picked as chairman in 2004 and then served two terms as ranking member. He had his eyes on the chairman post again but House rules — which preclude someone from holding three consecutive terms as chairman or ranking member — stood in his way (see NGI, Nov. 15).

©Copyright 2010Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.