Posted on 01/09/2003 3:51:39 PM PST by TLBSHOW
Saxton Bumped From Lands Panel Race
WASHINGTON - Western conservatives, opposed to an Eastern moderate leading the House committee with control over vast expanses of Western land, got their way as Rep. Jim Saxton (news, bio, voting record), who was in line for the post said Tuesday he was abandoning the race.
The New Jersey Republican accepted an offer from House leaders to lead a new Armed Services terrorism subcommittee.
"There was a great deal of discussion about where I could serve best," Saxton said. "Together we all concluded this was the best thing for me to do."
Several Western Republicans had protested that Saxton wouldn't understand how the committee's work affects farmers, ranchers and rural communities. And he often votes with environmentalists, including opposing oil exploration in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (news - web sites).
"It's been obvious to a lot of observers ... for a long time that a person like Jim Saxton would be unwelcome to a lot of the Republicans on the committee because he's too moderate," said Dave Alberswerth, a public lands specialist with the Wilderness Society.
Reps. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., and John Duncan, R-Tenn., are next in line for the chairmanship after Saxton. The Republican Steering Committee is expected to vote for committee chairmen on Wednesday.
Duncan has been more involved in committee issues and is seen as the frontrunner. Gallegly has made a push in recent weeks, sending members a briefing book featuring his work on public land issues.
Junior member Rep. Richard Pombo (news, bio, voting record), a California rancher and favorite of land-use groups, has also mounted a bold bid and won support from several Western members.
The new chairman will preside over a committee with jurisdiction over 700 million acres of America's public lands, including national parks and forests, energy development and federal waterways.
The prior chairman, Rep. James Hansen (news, bio, voting record), R-Utah, retired.
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