Longtime Head of House Energy Panel Is Ousted

WASHINGTON


Although Ms. Pelosi did not formally endorse Mr. Waxman, members of the Democratic caucus understood that she could have stopped him if she had wished. The incoming Obama administration had also signaled its direction when it named Philip Schiliro, a longtime and loyal aide to Mr. Waxman, as the new White House director of Congressional relations.

Besides seating a committed environmentalist as head of the energy committee, the vote also removes one of the auto industry