The ranking member on the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee has his sights set on becoming the leading Democrat for the powerful committee in the next Congress.
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) announced Monday that he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his friend and mentor, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who announced last week that he would retire after his current term expires. Waxman, the committee's ranking member, played a key role in crafting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as its chairman before Republicans took back the House in 2010. By the time Waxman leaves, he will have served in Congress for 40 years.
Pallone, meanwhile, has been an outspoken defender of the healthcare law. During an October hearing called by Republicans to explore glitches with HealthCare.gov, he derided the proceedings as a “monkey court.”