The late Senator Ted Kennedy was chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Massachusetts) was next in line of seniority on the committee (and next in line to chair the panel), but reports suggest Dodd wants to stick with the Senate Banking Committee. Dodd reportedly was to make his decision public with a news conference at 10 a.m. Iowa time. The 24/7 networks are covering Walter Cronkite's Memorial Service..
It all means Senator Tom Harkin (D-Cumming, Iowa) is next in line to chair the Seante HELP Committee. Harkin will have to give up his chairmanship of the Senate Ag Committee to take over the HELP panel. Dodd had been functioning as leader of the HELP Committee in Kennedy's absence; Harkin was one a handful of legislators who headed up writing portions of the health care reform bill that cleared the committee over a month ago. Harkin's portion: wellness and disease prevention aspects of the bill.
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
Recent Comments