Michigan Rep. Sander Levin appointed Ways and Means chairman

Washington -- Michigan's clout in Washington took a leap Thursday as Rep. Sander Levin was named acting chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

The 78-year-old Democrat from Royal Oak, long eclipsed in name recognition by his younger brother Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, was appointed to the temporary leadership position after former chairman Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., said he'd step aside while the House ethics committee continued an investigation into potential fundraising and personal finance violations.

Levin's appointment puts Michigan in the unusual, some experts would say enviable, position of having both leaders of the committee from the same delegation. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, serves as the Ways and Means' minority ranking member.

"This is terrific for Michigan. The Ways and Means Committee is very powerful, and it's very beneficial to our state," said Steve Mitchell, chairman of Mitchell Research and Analysis, a political polling and consulting firm in Lansing. "It adds a good deal of clout to the Michigan congressional delegation."

The appointment also marks an apex for Levin's long political career, which suffered some early bumps.

He lost two bids for governor in 1970 and 1974 to popular moderate Republican William Milliken after serving for five years in the state Senate. But his fight for the top job in Lansing helped vault the family name to prominence, giving Carl, 75, a boost in his bid for one of Michigan's two Senate seats, and later helping Sander's own run for the House, where he's served since 1983.

Levin's chairmanship will last until either Rangel steps back in following resolution of the ethics investigation or until Congress reconvenes next year after November's elections. In a statement, Levin said he would work "vigorously" in his new role on jobs creation and health care legislation.

"That means working collaboratively with Democrats on the committee and the entire caucus, with congressional leadership and the Obama administration, and undertaking discussions with Republicans in order to move our nation forward," Levin said.

Levin's appointment means he will, at least temporarily, oversee a broad swath of national economic and social welfare policies that have divided Congress. He'll also have an interesting post to leverage in fighting for Michigan issues, including jobs creation and economic growth.

He's a champion of labor and the auto industry, and was a part of negotiations during the General Motors and Chrysler bankruptcies. He's considered deft at building consensus and has also been a champion of the Great Lakes.

"Now that he's in this position, he's certainly in a more high-profile place to bring attention to the state's problems," said Vincent Hutchings, a professor of political science at the University of Michigan, who follows national politics.

Hutchings says having the combination of Levin and Camp on the committee that oversees critical tax and revenue issues as well as major federal spending programs like Medicare, Social Security and unemployment, will serve the state well, since they'll be able to draw on the experience of Michigan's long-running economic woes.

"They'll also be responsible for shaping a lot of the health care and jobs legislation we're seeing debated right now," he said.

'A lot of work to be done'

The biggest issue that he and perhaps Congress faces: the billions in tax cuts initiated by former President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003 set to expire at the end of this year.

If Congress doesn't act, taxes at every income level would increase, with the top rate rising from 35 percent to 39.6 percent. The top capital gains tax rate would rise from 15 percent to 20 percent and the top tax rate on dividends would increase from 15 percent to 39.6 percent. The $1,000 child tax credit would be reduced to $500.

In an interview Thursday, Levin said his experience representing the Great Lakes state, which has suffered from high unemployment and other economic woes tied to the auto industry downturn, would serve him well in the House's top committee.

"What Michigan's been going through is now representative of what's going on in all states," Levin said. "The pain in Michigan is now a pain that's being felt everywhere."

Levin said assuming the committee's top spot while his longtime friend Rangel steps aside was "tough. But as Charlie said, there's a lot of work to be done, and he didn't want anything to distract from that."

Camp said he and the other Republicans on the committee are ready to work with Levin to find solutions "to put our nation back on a road to prosperity.

"Sandy and I have had a long and good working relationship, especially when it comes to the Research and Development Tax Credit, and I expect that to continue," Camp said. "Given the state of the economy, our nation needs this Congress and especially the Ways and Means Committee to fire on all cylinders."

It's been a tough week for Rangel. The congressman, known for his liberal voting record and snappy bowties, was cited in a five-page report from the House ethics committee for violating rules barring lawmakers from taking trips paid for by corporations when he traveled to the Caribbean for a series of business conferences. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Detroit, was cleared of any wrongdoing in the report.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., assumed the temporary Ways and Means chairman position Wednesday following Rangel's announcement of a temporary leave. Stark was next in line for the chairmanship, but many of the committee's members balked at him taking the reins.

'Big day for the Levin family'

Bill Rustem, president and chief executive of Lansing consulting firm Public Sector Consultants, used to work for Milliken and said Levin has long been a "solid public servant" who's garnered respect for his even manner. "He's gone on to have a very long, honorable career in the House," Rustem said. "The chairmanship is a capstone of a long, very distinguished career in the trenches."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had kind words for Levin, saying he "will be a powerful advocate for addressing the urgent needs of the American people."

Levin also won praise from Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

"Today is a great day as one of Michigan's most tireless advocates, Sandy Levin, becomes leader of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee," Granholm said in a statement.

Carl Levin congratulated his brother on his appointment.

"He's thoughtful and informed, and a fabulous listener who will seek to build consensus," he said in a statement. "You'll never meet a harder worker, or a nicer guy. This is a big day for the Levin family. This is also a big day for Michigan."

The Associated Press contributed.