Today's Date: September 26, 2023
WM Sets Date for Third Quarter Earnings Release Conference Call   •   IFCO achieves Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver recertification for the European Lift Lock RPCs   •   Nippon Sanso Holdings Corporation: Publication of “Integrated Report 2023”   •   Fosun International has been awarded the "ESG Benchmark Awards"   •   HIVENTURES INVESTS IN HUNGARIAN STARTUP THAT CREATES A FUTURE WITHOUT BARRIERS   •   IQVIA Appoints Richard Staub III President of Research & Development Solutions   •   Global Superstar Ellie Goulding Visits Zaatari Refugee Camp In Jordan For The Grand Opening Of The Zaatari Music & Arts Cent   •   Global Times: Foreign reporters accomplish media trip in Xinjiang, impressed with vibrant local economy, diverse culture   •   RXO Presents the Carolina Panthers Oorah Hooah Classic 7-on-7 Football Tournament   •   Immersive Labs Unveils Enterprise-Class Cyber Skills and Resilience Platform for the Entire Organization   •   Deloitte Analysis: Employed Women Have as Much as $15.4 Billion More in Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses a Year Than Men   •   PUMA Welcomes Indian Sustainable Fashion Advocate Aishwarya Sharma To Its Voices Of A RE:GENERATION Initiative   •   Worldly Appoints Francois Thrower as New CFO   •   Priority Financial Group Announces Partnership with the Financial Planning Association of Greater Phoenix   •   LyondellBasell Demonstrates Commitment to Sustainability with Launch of +LC (Low Carbon) Solutions   •   LONGi strives for energy equity to illuminate every child's future with sunshine   •   Fosun International's FTSE Russell ESG Rating Upgraded to 3.8, Maintains Inclusion in FTSE4Good Index Series   •   bebe stores, inc. Announces B. Riley’s Agreement to Purchase 3.7M bebe shares from Founder Manny Mashouf   •   "KPMG's Report Highlighting Bitcoin's Positive ESG Contributions Boosts Crypto Perception": PayBito CEO Raj Chowdhury   •   University of Phoenix Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Competency-based Program Helps Advance Skills Amidst Nu
Bookmark and Share

Blacks In Congress Struggle To Maintain Influence

Charles D. Ellison,, Washington Informer  

WASHINGTON -  The political landscape changed dramatically in 2010 for Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., the audacious, skip-to-his-own-beat Philadelphia lawmaker hoping for tightened polls that evening — just enough to hold off an expected Republican takeover of the House.

His original plan was to embark on an ambitious, long shot bid for Chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, overseeing $1.4 trillion in discretionary funding and finding ways to push education as a top priority.

As the Grand Old Party amassed big gains that night, plans changed.

That didn’t really deter Fattah from his dream to run things on “Approps” as Capitol Hill rats affectionately abbreviate it. He simply went into minority ranking member mode, still intent on openly defying the Democratic Party’s Congressional seniority system. 

Selection based on years served seemed like a simple formula long observed by Democrats. It worked to the favor of the quiet and senescent Rep. Norm Dicks, D-WA, who was next in line after retiring Appropriations Chair Rep. David Obey, D-WI.

Hopes for ranking member glory were dashed, however, when Fattah’s own Congressional Black Caucus gave the appearance of an endorsement for Dicks, who is White and has served in the House since 1976. It was a saddening and unexpected blow to Fattah, himself a longtime CBC Member.

“Members of the Congressional Black Caucus strongly support maintaining the seniority system for selecting committee leadership. The seniority system has served the Democratic Caucus well and has ushered in an era of diverse committee leadership, which is an asset to our party and our nation,” current CBC Chairwoman Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said in a statement released by POLITICO.

But, CBC spokesman J. Jioni Palmer disputes the authenticity of that statement. Dismissive of the reports and flatly denying any Caucus endorsement of Dicks, Palmer seemed annoyed by the question. “Reporters don’t know everything,” he retorted.

Still, observers argue that it makes sense, a shrewd and calculated move by the Caucus to ensure the integrity of the seniority system. Without it, many CBC Members wouldn’t have had their chance to chair influential committees: from Bennie Thompson, D-MI, on Homeland Security to Charlie Rangel, D-NY, formerly chairing Ways and Means.

The venerable Rep. John Conyers, D-MI, is still stone locked into Judiciary and Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-NY, held on as Chair of Government Reform. Turning on a native son to save the family seemed like an essential move since many CBC Members have been in the Congress long enough to assume an impressive number of leadership roles on influential committees.

At the end of the Democratic-led 111th Congress, there are four CBC House Committee Chairs and 18 subcommittee chairs. When Republicans take control in January, most — if not all — will transition into the Ranking Member role.

Fattah, however, was congratulatory in a statement on Dicks’ win. “I look forward to working with him and our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to advance an agenda for the American people. I know that our leadership team, led by Norm, will be united as we head into the 112th Congress.”

And, in a conversation with the Tribune, he seemed pleased with his conciliation prize: ranking member of House Appropriation’s subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, a decent look worth $70 billion in discretionary funding and a chance to transcend the urban politics typically associated with Philly’s most senior Congressional Member.

“Competition is a good thing,” said Fattah, particularly jovial that the controversial tax cut deal he endorsed in opposition to the CBC was about to pass.

But, the CBC remains in a state of constant, traumatic flux, struggling to regain or maintain influence on a scarred post-midterm battlefield. After weeks of uncertainty and a mountain of speculation, Towns suddenly withdrew himself from consideration as Ranking Member of the Government Reform Committee.


STORY TAGS: BLACK NEWS, AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWS, MINORITY NEWS, CIVIL RIGHTS NEWS, DISCRIMINATION, RACISM, RACIAL EQUALITY, BIAS, EQUALITY, AFRO AMERICAN NEWS

Video

White House Live Stream
LIVE VIDEO EVERY SATURDAY
alsharpton Rev. Al Sharpton
9 to 11 am EST
jjackson Rev. Jesse Jackson
10 to noon CST


Video

LIVE BROADCASTS
Sounds Make the News ®
WAOK-Urban
Atlanta - WAOK-Urban
KPFA-Progressive
Berkley / San Francisco - KPFA-Progressive
WVON-Urban
Chicago - WVON-Urban
KJLH - Urban
Los Angeles - KJLH - Urban
WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
New York - WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
WADO-Spanish
New York - WADO-Spanish
WBAI - Progressive
New York - WBAI - Progressive
WOL-Urban
Washington - WOL-Urban

Listen to United Natiosns News