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Shimkus in line for big promotion

Posted in:

• Illinois

* People I’ve talked to think this is a very good bet…

Though Illinois lost some Washington clout on the Democratic side in the Nov. 8 election, downstate Republican Rep. John Shimkus stands to be a big winner if he can pull together the votes he needs.

Shimkus is one of three candidates and, by some accounts, the favorite to take over the chairmanship of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in the new Congress. […]

Whoever wins will succeed Michigan’s Fred Upton. The winner also picks up a powerful slot that gives him a say over not just energy policy (including supervision of Illinois’ sizable nuclear power industry) but telecom, consumer protection and the pending repeal or rewrite of Obamacare.

Shimkus spoke at a high school graduation event I attended earlier this year (another one of my super-smart and talented nieces).

He brought along a tray of tomato plants and used it to illustrate his life lesson, which was, essentially: Plant yourself where you find yourself and grow from there.

Shimkus told the story of how he’d become chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, which he jokingly described as the “garbage committee.” The subcommittee has been working since the 1970s to revise garbage regulations. Shimkus told the audience that he decided to make the best of his assignment and was on the verge of getting the bill passed and signed into law.

I kinda chuckled at Shimkus’ “garbage committee” story back then. But I ain’t chuckling now.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 10:35 am

Comments

1. He can then explain how low prices on coal and higher demand for natural gas will bring back coal.

   Then he can uphold his term limit promise and quit.

   That’s all I want for xmas

   Comment by Dr X Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 10:41 am

2. There isn’t a whole lot to chuckle about in Illinois or DC right about now.

   Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 10:44 am

3. Good for him and good for Illinois but it’s worth pointing out that people who favor term limits such as Governor Rauner and even Shimkus himself think he shouldn’t have been around long enough to get this promotion.

   Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 10:44 am

4. yippee, another climate science denier in a position of importance to our environment

   Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 10:47 am

5. Isn[t wonderful to be in the Majority. Good guy…remember when he first ran.

   Comment by scott aster Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 10:49 am

6. Well. Good to see that the man who was in charge of the page program, and who with the help of convicted child molester Denny Hastert helped to cover up the Mark Foley misconduct, isn’t seeing any repercussions for that non-scandal. /s

   Someone remind me, was his term limit pledge in 1996 - three or four terms? He’s on what, 10 now? I know John. And I’ve never known a bigger hypocrite in politics. That’s saying a lot.

   Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 10:50 am

7. Oh goody. The GOP is giving the gavel to Shimkus after deciding he was too wacko even after the 2010 Tea Party wave.

   Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 10:53 am

8. Same committee that initiated the ban on incandescent light bulbs in 2007. I told John then what I thought of his “progress”

   Comment by Thomas Edison Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 11:05 am

9. That’s a monster committee, impacting virtually everything in the marketplace.

   Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 11:13 am

10. Meh.. good for John Shimkus. Hope he finally takes his pledge about term limits seriously and doesn’t run again.

    Comment by ILGOV2016 Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 11:14 am

11. Heaven help us now that my Congressman has some real power.

    If only he had kept his promise to the District and returned to Madison County 10 years ago!

    And we can thank the ILLDEMS, who had the redistricting pencil twice, for continuing to give him a safe seat!

    Comment by illini Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 11:16 am

12. This would be very interesting considering that Rauner has relied on Obamacare heavily as ways to balance the State’/ budget by transitioning people from various 100% state-funded healthcare programs over to the 95% federally funded Medicaid.

    This is how the anti-Rauner folks say he has cut funding for various feel-good healthcare initiatives.

    Comment by Not It Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 11:16 am

13. Rich - FYI/off-topic: your WBEZ/WBEW/WBEQ feed is glitching out.

    “The widget AQL4JYGHIY powered by Feed Informer does not exist.”

    Comment by A. Nonymous Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 11:19 am

14. Um. I think this is good news people.

    Comment by A guy Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 11:20 am

15. Rich, you need to recruit your nieces to help run this state. If nothing else Illinois would sound better!

    Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 11:24 am

16. nd I’ve never known a bigger hypocrite

    You missed Jack Franks lying about his term limits, lying about not running for county chairman when he pushed the bill to make it elected.

    Then running….

    Comment by Fav Human Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 11:26 am

17. He could learn a lot from the other gentleman from Illinois, Senator Dick Durbin, and maybe accomplish something in his career.

    Comment by flea Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 11:33 am

18. Flea - such as?! Durbin is one of the biggest partisan pipe bomb throwers in D.C.

    Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 12:09 pm

19. = Um. I think this is good news people. =

    Not so good if you believe we owe future generations a livable climate.

    Comment by Going nuclear Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 1:45 pm

20. More Drama than I’m willing to accept on the day before a holiday Going Nuke.

    You think the last chairman of that committee was a green horn?

    Comment by A guy Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 2:18 pm

21. That Crain’s article is a textbook example of terrible journalism. Greg Walden raised a ton more money for the party/candidates last cycle than John. Greg was the damn chairman of the NRCC for the past 4 years. That’s the very reason why he’s a serious contender for the gavel.

    http://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/shimkus-walden-ramp-campaign-energy-commerce-gavel

    Comment by Former IL Resident Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 2:21 pm

22. Rodney Davis was his aide, right. Rodney seemed a WHOLE lot sharper than Shimkus

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 2:57 pm

23. bottom of the barrel heaven help us

    Comment by jw Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 3:59 pm

24. I try to make it a rule not to reply to the multiple Anonymous commenters but @2:57 is exactly right.

    @Nuclear - agreed and well stated.

    And @jw - many share your thoughts.

    Comment by illini Wednesday, Nov 23, 16 @ 4:20 pm

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