Rep. Henry Waxman, liberal champion, to retire from Congress

[Newsjock]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Rep. Henry A. Waxman, whose legislative record has made him one of the country’s most influential liberal lawmakers for four decades, announced Thursday that he will retire from his Westside seat, the latest in a wave of departures that is remaking the state’s long-stable congressional delegation.

During a congressional career that began when Gerald R. Ford was president, Waxman became one of his party’s most prolific and savvy legislators, focusing on issues related to healthcare and the environment. He played a central role – sometimes over opposition within his own party – in passing laws that dramatically cut air pollution, helped reduce smoking, expanded Medicaid coverage for the poor, reduced pesticides in food, made generic drugs more widely available, helped AIDS patients, promoted orphan drugs and improved federal regulation of nursing homes.

Among his legislative victories was the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he helped write and push through the House. Passage of the law fulfilled “one of my lifelong dreams” by guaranteeing access to healthcare coverage for Americans, he said.

Often assailed by Republicans for his partisanship, Waxman was equally lauded by Democrats for his skill at finding legislative compromises that pushed a host of landmark bills into law. Bald, mustachioed and 5-foot-5, he was also a tough political infighter who did not hesitate to push aside rivals who stood in the way of what he considered important goals. The walls of his Capitol Hill office are covered with framed copies of bills he authored and pens used by Democratic and Republican presidents to sign into law numerous measures, any one of which might have been considered a capstone by other lawmakers.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-henry-waxman-retire-congress-20140130,0,369837,full.story

[elfin]

1. Just saw this as well Dammit

He is a treasure. Hope it isn't illness prompting the decision.

The ONLY congressmen to send a thoughtful and reasoned and LONG letter in response to a query and plea from me during the Dumbya era. And I am not even in his district or state.

The letter referenced my points, so it was obviously read by him or a very diligent staff person.

To repeat - dammit.

[L0oniX]

2. This will hurt us.

[marions ghost]

3. Hard to replace Henry Waxman...

Mr. Waxman’s departure after 20 terms in the House will be particularly poignant. One of his most notable accomplishments, the Affordable Care Act, which he was instrumental in writing, is shaping up as the centerpiece of campaigns all over the country, not as a triumph but as a Republican cudgel. And the expansion of Medicaid that he has championed has been challenged in a number of states run by Republican governors.

The sprawling bill to combat climate change that he wrote was passed by the House in 2009 but died in the Senate, and President Obama has given up on efforts to push it through. Mr. Waxman has also spent years trying to strengthen the powers of the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, but those efforts are under fire from the Republicans who control the House.

Still, Mr. Waxman will leave behind a legacy of entrenched accomplishments, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which extends coverage to millions of low-income children; anti-tobacco, food safety and food-labeling laws; and the Ryan White Care Act, which allocates billions of dollars in federal money for the treatment of H.I.V. and AIDS.

He is also credited with laying the foundation for many of the executive actions that Mr. Obama, during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, pledged to pursue. One involves the Clean Air Act, which Mr. Waxman helped write and which gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority it is now exercising to regulate power plant emissions of greenhouse gases. Mr. Waxman saw to it that the bill would allow the president, on his own, to order improvements in automobile fuel efficiency and other energy saving efforts.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/us/politics/henry-a-waxman-a-house-democratic-fixture-will-retire.html?hp&_r=0

[hlthe2b]

4. Oh, that's a loss! Damn

[frazzled]

5. One of my favorite legislators

I guess he deserves to retire, however, at 74 and after 19 terms in office and so many years fighting the fights. This is one Congressman who didn't just talk but worked hard to pass legislation. Here are some of the bills he played a major role in passing:

1980s-1990s - Repeated expansions of Medicaid
1980, 1986 and 1996 - Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments
1983 - Orphan Drug Act
1984 - Waxman-Hatch Generic Drug Act
1984 - Comprehensive and Smoking Education Act
1986 - Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act
1986 - National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act
1987 - Nursing Home Reform Act
1988 - Lead Contamination and Control Act
1990 - Ryan White CARE Act
1990 - Nutrition Labeling and Education Act
1990 - Safe Medical Devices Act
1990 - Clean Air At Amendments of 1990
1992- Mammography Quality Standards Act
1992 - Prescription Drug User Fee Act
1992 - Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act
1993 - National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act
1996 -Food Quality Protection Act
1997 - Child Health Insurance Program in 1997 (expanded in 2009).
2006 - Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act
2009 - Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
2010 - Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act
2010 - Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act of 2010
2010 - 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act
2010 - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
2011 - Food Safety Modernization Act
2013 - Drug Quality and Security Act

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/01/30/henry-waxman-a-man-of-many-bills/

[Judi Lynn]

17. Thanks for posting this. He worked well, and hard for this country.

No way anyone would confuse him with a Republican!

[Mira]

6. A huge loss. Said with much gratitude for his excellent service. n/t

[babylonsister]

7. I'm so sad to read this. I will miss him. nt

[packman]

8. Damn,

say it ain't so. One of the few truly bright candles in those dark halls of government.

[Paladin]

9. Big loss for us. Sorry to hear it. (nt)

[jsr]

10. Good man.

[SoapBox]

11. Worthless...

I wish I could say I'm sad but he hasn't done shit in years.

Especially in this last election, when the districts changed, we tried to talk to his campaign to see if he was going to be in our area. RUDE responses!

When my partner called a second time (and there were a couple of emails sent) the office hung up on him...they told him that they weren't coming to the South Bay and that they were only concerned with Santa Monica area.

GOOD bye.

[passiveporcupine]

12. Oh no

He deserves to retire with honors, but how will we replace him? Oregon is becoming a more contested state than usual. I am a web foot so I want Oregon to be blue, but I'm afraid we may be losing this battle.

[former9thward]

14. Are you thinking of Wyden?

Wyden is from OR, Waxman is from west Los Angeles.

[passiveporcupine]

15. Yep...sorry

For some reason always think of waxman as from Oregon too. Getting old person brain farts I guess.

[onehandle]

13. One of the greats. Waxman is EXACTLY the type of legislator the GOP has in mind...

...when they cripple Congress year after year.

[nirvana555]

16. Marianne Williamson is running is this district. She's a best-selling author and has

Devoted her life to a spiritual philosophy called "A Course In Miracles". I've seen her speak on many, many occasions. She used to go every Monday night to The Ebel Theatre here in Los Angeles and talk to an always packed venue. I was there almost every time with friends. District 33 is quite Liberal. There was already a Hugh Face Book fight when a friend posted she was running (a couple of months ago) because of the folks that felt Waxman was one of the best progressives we have and the following of hers. In fact, the facebook thread was outrageous and I wish I had printed and saved it. Well now it's really interesting....I'm in Redondo Beach (The South Bay) and am not in this district......things are going to get REALLY interesting....

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. She is not running as a Democrat

[abelenkpe]

19. I live in Waxman's district

Not voting for anyone who isn't a liberal democrat. This neighborhood is very very liberal.

[nirvana555]

20. I just found out I am in this district. I just moved from Torrance to Redondo

Beach. I agree w/you, abelenkpe. I want a very Liberal Democrat. I don't know how Marianne will do because some folks will consider her belief system too out there. Personally,I don't. However, I was just speaking with a good friend who lives in Venice Beach and she's worried about some guy who says he's an Independent but he's really a Republican and h as gobs of money. I don't know this guys name and he hasn't even said he's running. My belief is that a Liberal will take this district, but I don't know for sure.

[abelenkpe]

21. Yeah, definitely need to stay on top of this

If you find out the guys name let me know. It's going to be important to stay informed.

[tabasco]

22. He's been a hero of mine for a long time.

I'm sorry to hear about this.