The Republican takeover in the House has drug industry stakeholders watching to see which member becomes chairman of a key committee, Energy and Commerce.
First in line for the committee chair is Texas Republican Joe Barton - ranking member since 2007 after Democrats wrested House control in the 2006 congressional elections.
Barton would need a waiver from the party to take the chair, a move considered unlikely following a gaffe this summer in which he demanded President Obama apologize to BP following the administration's response to the Gulf oil spill.
Reps. Cliff Stearns of Florida and John Shimkus of Illinois also are expected to make a play for the top spot, but Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan is currently viewed by Hill observers as the front runner. Upton's donations to other Republicans' campaigns during this election cycle improved his chances significantly.
In two other key House committees - Oversight and Government Reform and the Appropriations subcommittee with FDA oversight - the current ranking Republican member is expected to take the chair.
California Rep. Darrell Issa likely will take the lead on Oversight from Rep. Edolphus Towns of New York. Issa has been vigorous in his criticism of federal agencies under the Obama administration..
Georgia Rep. Jack Kingston is in line to take the Appropriations Agriculture subcommittee from Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, who has been the most vocal and consistent advocate for creating a separate food safety agency from components of FDA, Department of Agriculture and other agencies.
Kingston hasn't been a major player on health care issues. But he has made a point of disagreeing with DeLauro's stances. For example, during a 2008 Ag subcommittee hearing on FDA's Safety First initiative on post-market safety. Kingston is "pro-FDA" and would like to hear "more about successes" there, On the down side, Kingston has continued to speak out in favor of importation.
Let the jockeying begin!
