Congressman Upton wants to Chair the House Energy & Commerce Committee. While I am a big fan of Congressman Barton, and he wants a waiver, I am not in favor of any waivers for House Committees and think the House GOP needs to choose someone other than Upton.

Congressman Shimkus would be great. Joe Pitts (!!!!) would be awesome. And there are others.

But of Upton, let’s review who we are dealing with.

THIS IS THE MAN WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO BAN THE LIGHTBULB!!

Here is the rest of his sorry voting record:

BAILOUTS

• Voted YES for TARP
• Voted YES on the auto bailout
• Voted YES on Cash for Clunkers

SPENDING

• Voted NO on 7 of the last 9 RSC Budgets
• Voted YES on the Farm Bill
• Voted YES on the 2005 Highway Bill
• Voted NO to cap farm subsidies
• Voted YES four times to extend unemployment benefits
• Voted NO to end milk subsidies
• Voted NO to cut sugar subsidies
• Voted NO to cut NEA spending
• Voted NO to cut AMTRAK spending
• Voted YES to increase funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
• Got a 53% on the Club’s 2009 RePORK Card
• Got a 42% on the Club’s 2007 RePORK Card

TAXES

• Voted YES on Patriot Tax – a surtax on high income earners

REGULATIONS

• Voted YES for Sarbanes-Oxley
• Voted YES to increase the minimum wage
• Voted YES on energy bill with new CAFÉ standards and tax hikes
• Voted NO to waive Davis-Bacon
• Voted YES to criminalize “price-gouging”

POLITICAL FREE SPEECH

• Voted YES to force 527s to disclose their donors
• Voted YES on McCain-Feingold
• Voted YES on the 527 Reform Act

ENTITLEMENTS

• Voted YES for SCHIP

GOVERNMENT REFORM

• Voted NO to privatize postal service for 20 communities
• Voted 7 of 9 times to increase congressional pay

SCHOOL CHOICE

• Voted YES on No Child Left Behind