Upton Wins Chair of Energy and Commerce Panel; Barton Concedes

"Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) on Tuesday signaled that he will not mount a challenge to the House GOP Steering Committee’s selection of Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee next year.

Barton, under the GOP’s procedures, could have sought a GOP conference vote on the Steering Committee decision when House Republicans gather Wednesday to ratify the Steering panel’s selections for committee leadership slots.

But Barton – who is the energy panel’s senior Republican and former chairman – instead congratulated Upton after the tough and sometimes bitter campaign, all but ensuring Upton will lead the energy panel next year."

Ben Geman reports for The Hill''s E2 Wire blog December 7, 2010.