WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, has been named chairman of the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The post gives him power over a large percentage of the bills that come before the body.
Barton replaces outgoing Chairman Bill Tauzin, R.-La., who has decided to not run for re-election and is expected to soon step down from his seat to take a lobbying position as the head of a Washington trade association.
Rep. Charles Pickering, R-Miss., is expected to replace committee Vice Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., who is stepping down, and Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Texas, is expected to take over Barton's chair of the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee.
Barton said Wednesday his agenda as chairman would include increasing oversight of federal agencies, quickly moving to enact tougher penalties for over-the-air broadcasters that violate federal decency standards, and implementing President Bush's market-oriented air pollution initiative, Clear Skies.
He also indicated a wish to revisit the 1996 Telecommunications Act to examine the regulations of all market players, a prime concern of established telecom companies angered over the lessor restrictions on their newer Internet and cable-based competitors.
