Hutchison to Step In for Stevens

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison named ranking member of Senate Commerce Committee while Sen. Ted Stevens fights federal corruption indictment.

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/30/2008 4:19:00 PM

It looks like Texas Republicans will have a corner on the ranking member posts in both Commerce Committees, at least for now.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison moved up, at least temporarily, as ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee. That post had been held by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who was forced to step down by Senate rules after he was indicted in a federal corruption probe -- he said he is innocent.

Stevens carried the title of vice chairman, while Hutchison will be ranking member. Stevens' title was essentially an honorific stemming from his long friendship with committee chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). When Stevens was chairman, he regularly referred to Inouye as co-chairman.

Hutchison, who has been a senator since 1993, will remain ranking member of the Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee, as well.

“I am honored to temporarily step in for Sen. Stevens as ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee while the legal process works itself out,” Hutchison said in a statement Wednesday.

She also extended her moral support to Stevens. “Ted served our country heroically in World War II and is a tireless advocate for his state,” she said. “I have every expectation that Sen. Stevens will return to his role as ranking member in the future.”

Hutchison has been a defender of the cable industry from what some perceived as Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin's heavy regulatory hand. She pushed for giving the FCC the authority to regulate violence and for allowing TV stations on the border with Mexico to continue broadcasting in analog after February 2009.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) is ranking member of the House Commerce Committee.