Rahall eyes transportation slot

BECKLEY — Rep. Nick Rahall says he is gathering support to trade in his spot on the House Committee on Natural Resources for the rank of top Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in January.

The decision would put him in a better position to serve West Virginians, said Rahall, D-W.Va. The position was left vacant with the recent election defeat of 18-term Minnesota Rep. Jim Oberstar.

“With the unexpected loss of Jim Oberstar from Minnesota, the ranking member slot is open on Transportation,” Rahall said. “Should I secure the support of my caucus, I would like to go for that position.”

Though other congressman are vying for the spot, Rahall is next in line by seniority rules. The ultimate decision will be in the hands of the Democratic caucus.

Because Transportation and Infrastructure is a major committee, House rules say Rahall cannot also continue working on a minor committee such as Natural Resources. Though Rahall has served as chair on that committee, the Republican capture of the House means he would no longer be chairman come January.

“I’m excited about this position,” Rahall said. “It’s going to mean West Virginians, while we won’t be driving the car when we do the next transportation bill, we will be in the front seat. We’re going to be riding shotgun.”

The position does have potential to channel funding to West Virginia, an ability West Virginia politicians have scrambled to replace since the death of Sen. Robert C. Byrd and the defeat of Democratic Rep. Alan Mollohan. Byrd, particularly, was famous for utilizing his position in the Senate Appropriations Committee to bring large projects and federal dollars back to West Virginia.

Rahall was serving as vice chair of the transportation and infrastructure committee, but he loses that position with loss of the Democratic majority. West Virginia Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, however, also has a spot on the committee and will now be in the majority party.

During his campaign, Rahall said his position on the natural resources committee was important in blocking several pieces of legislation that could hurt coal miners. He said Thursday he is not veering away from campaign promises by leaving the committee.

“One of the avenues I talked about during the campaign was amending the Clean Water Act and that comes through Transportation. I’ve now moved up to top Democrat in that committee,” Rahall said. “There’s not a word I said in campaigning that is not being held true.”

Rahall said the relationships he has built with members of the House Committee on Natural Resources ensure that he will still have some influence on bills that go through that committee.

Michigan Republican Dale Kildee is next in line for the position of chairman, but Ed Markey, D-Mass., one of the major pushers of the climate change legislation and the cap and trade bill, will likely take Rahall’s spot on natural resources. Both issues have been hotly contested in West Virginia because of their effects on the coal industry.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not turning my back on coal,” Rahall said. “Markey is a fair individual, he has his views, but first of all he’s not chairman. (Republican Rep. Doc) Hastings from the state of Washington is chairman of that committee and I worked with him and treated him fairly. When I was chairman he was my ranking member. ... I can go to Doc Hastings any time I want and expect to be treated fairly and have a fair hearing from him on coal issues.

“There’s a certain trepidation, I understand, but I will still be there and will not walk away from any issues or concerns about coal jobs.”

Rahall said Markey may prove tough to work with.

“He’ll be tough. I mean, after all he was the main sponsor of cap and trade, the main sponsor of climate change,” Rahall said. “He’s your typical Northeastern liberal that has not always had coal as his No. 1 goal. There’s no doubt about that.”

Rahall said knowing Markey could move into the spot made his decision more difficult, but said “there’s so much more” that can be done through the transportation committee, particularly because of the loss of Byrd.

“We’re talking water and sewer projects, ... the entire Corps of Engineers comes under transportation and Infrastructure jurisdiction,” Rahall said. “There are a lot more issues of concern for West Virginia that can be dealt with from a higher position on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee than when I served on Natural Resources.”

Through the transportation and infrastructure committee, Rahall will be able to assist overseeing expenditures of the Highway Trust Fund.

“I’ll be there fighting to ensure that West Virginia continues to receive the excellent rate of return due from that Highway Trust Fund — currently about $2.10 for every dollar West Virginians pay,” he said. “That’s a hard formula to keep with a lot of the big states not doing as well and coming after us on that.”

Rahall said he is not concerned about losing the advantages offered by being in the majority party in the House.

“I’ve been in the minority before and been quite successful for West Virginia, including projects in Raleigh County. When I was in the majority, I treated the minority fairly,” Rahall said. “I’ll be in the minority, but I have been able to work across party lines, which is more important now than ever. I’ve also treated Republicans fair when they’ve been in the minority and I expect them to treat me fair when the Democrats are in the minority.”

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