Democrats rename 5 House committees

ap ^ | 1/5/07 | KASIE HUNT

[mdittmar]

In taking back control of the House, Democrats also are restoring the old names used for committees when they last headed them in 1994.

Republicans swept into power in that year's midterm elections had created their own monikers for several committees. As part of the rules changes adopted this week, Democrats reclaimed the old names for several committee and created a new name for one other panel:

• The Committee on Education and the Workforce was changed back to its pre-1995 name, Education and Labor. Tom Kiley, a spokesman for incoming chairman George Miller, D-Calif., said Miller "believed that the name change in 1994 was a deliberate swipe at the labor movement in this country. He wanted to reverse the insult."

• The House Resources Committee is now the House Natural Resources Committee — the name it received in 1993 and lost in 1995. (It started in 1816 as the Committee on Public Lands.) Incoming Chairman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., said the new name shows Congress' "commitment to conserving our nation's unique natural and cultural heritage — including its natural environment, public lands and forests, and fish and wildlife."

• Returning to a name first bestowed in 1922, the International Relations Committee is once again the Foreign Affairs Committee. Holocaust survivor Rep. Tom Lantos D-Calif., wields the gavel.

• The Science Committee is now the Committee on Science and Technology to more accurately describe the committee's jurisdiction, Democratic counsel John Piazza said. He said the Republicans' 1995 change shortened the name from the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Tennessee Democrat Bart Gordon is the new chairman.

• Rep. Henry Waxman , D-Calif., is chairman of the newly renamed Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which had been the Government Reform Committee only since 1999. Before then, it was the Government Reform and Oversight Committee. Waxman revels in his reputation as a watchdog over the executive branch.

[mdittmar]

Do you ever get the feeling you're watching a bunch of 5 year olds?

5 year olds with our money.

[rwgal]

Sure, that will solve all the problems...

[rbmillerjr]

Who will be running the Chamberlain committee on appeasement, pacifism and hate America first?

[A Citizen Reporter]

And they want to change the word formally known as "liberal" to "progressive"?

They ought to call themselves "regressives".

[JSDude1]

The first two are the "ones" that piss me off: renaming them to fit liberal politics..

[PhiKapMom]

Exactly! Spoiled little brats! I swear they are trying to turn back the clock like it was the 80's.

[gcruse]

They're changing the names back to more like they were before the Republicans changed them. I see five year olds on both sides of the aisle.

[Txsleuth]

You have them pegged.

Sheesh...how petty.

[B Knotts]

Symbolism over substance.

[decal]

"Waxman revels in his reputation as a watchdog over the executive branch."

So.....where was The Nosey One from 1993-2001?

[Trajan88]

My 6 yr. old neice has more maturity than some of these folks that call themselves U.S. representatives.

What a joke.

[Revolting cat!]

Yes, these are 5 year olds appeasing other 5 year old, their base. We're doin' sumpin, you know what I'm talkin' 'bout?!

[keepitreal]

The Committee on Education and the Workforce was changed back to its pre-1995 name: The Committee on Dumbing Down Our Children and Workforce Committee

The House Resources Committee is now The House Committee Owned by the Environmentalists

the International Relations Committee is now the We Love the United Nations and France Committee

Rep. Henry Waxman , D-Calif., is chairman of the newly renamed Impeach President Bush Committee, which had been the Government Reform Committee only since 1999

[ikka]

When will they be done re-aranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?

[Revolting cat!]

Surrender and Appeasement Committee

Taxation and Pork Distribution Committee

Wacky Ideeers Committee (Oh wait, scratch that, that's the subcommittee in every Committee.)

[sine_nomine]

Some new committees:

Drunks Against Mad Mothers

Professional Leakers to the New York Times

Professional Leakers to Our Sworn Enemies

[mdittmar]

They're changing the names back to more like they were before the Republicans changed them. I see five year olds on both sides of the aisle.

I agree.

[Revolting cat!]

And the most powerful of all:

White Guilt Committee

________________________

But seriously. Here's a potential upside. These crypto-communists, as clever they thnk themselves to be, won't help themselves in the end, and screw up so much in the next two years, that they'll pave a yellow brick road for a conservative candidate for POTUS in 2008. Get on your knees an pray now!

[edpc]

Waxman revels in his reputation as a watchdog over the executive branch.

Shouldn't that be "watchpig".....?

[princess leah]

If only they were so concerned with our well being as they are with their own self-importance!