Dodd Decides Against Taking Over Senate Health Committee

[Mass]

Next in line is Harkin, which would be a great news as he is a pretty solid democrat (I am sure some people disagree with some of his votes, but in general, it would be a great choice, IMHO)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/09/dodd_decides_against_taking_ov.html?hpid=artslot

Dodd's decision leaves the chairmanship of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who follows Dodd in seniority. Multiple sources in the Harkin orbit, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said that he is certain to take over the HELP committee.

Harkin is currently chairman of the Agriculture Committee and would have to give up that position. He would likely be replaced at Agriculture by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who faces a difficult reelection bid in 2010. Other Democrats are more senior than her on the Agriculture Committee, but they hold more prestigious chairmanships already.