John Dingell

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We mentioned earlier that Henry Waxman won the House Caucus election to serve as the head of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and that there would be more to follow.

I had planned to put up a post pointing out that as winter turns into spring, John Dingell will become the longest serving House member (two Senators are still ahead for total Congressional time), when he surpasses Jamie Whitten (D-MS) who served from 1941 to 1995.

There was also going to be the mention that Dingell's wife, Debbie, is a GM executive. I was going to say something snarky about how I'm sure that had nothing to do with Dingell's lifelong stance against CAFE standards, nor his commitment to support of the Big Three.

I would have, but instead, there's this:

Congressman Dingell was taken to a DC area hospital yesterday afternoon, suffering "discomfort". He was treated on the Hill, and then was able to walk to the ambulance. As of the lastest information, they're still running tests and keeping him for observation. He is 82.

Congressman Dingell, I haven't always agreed with your votes on environmental issues, but you have done your job of representing your constituency in the Michigan 15th. Sometimes, in believing in the overall issue, I forget that "All politics is local", as Tip O'Neill always said.

Please get better. We need you: history should have as its longest serving Congressman someone who fought for ALL his constituents, not a segregationist who only fought for those consituents who were white.