Buoyed by healthcare support, Costello eyes Science panel gavel

Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) has set his sights on the chairmanship of the
Science and Technology Committee.

With current Chairman Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) retiring at the end
of this session, the Science Committee’s top Democratic post is up for
grabs, and Costello is positioned to take the gavel or the ranking
slot if Republicans take over the majority.

{mosads}As the second-most senior Democrat on the panel after Gordon, Costello
is the natural choice for the job. The next two most senior Democrats
in line on the panel, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas) and Rep. Lynn
Woolsey (D-Calif.), have said they will defer to the seniority system
and won’t challenge Costello for the job, according to a House aide
familiar with the discussions.

Costello also boosted his chances of ascending to the top post when he
decided to vote yes for the healthcare bill earlier this year, Speaker
Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) top legislative priority this cycle. For
months he remained uncommitted about the bill, publicly airing his
concerns about provisions that would have publicly funded abortion, as
well as its overall cost and complexity. In the end, he was one of the
final Democrats to declare support for the bill, making it
possible for Democrats to secure the legislative victory.

Democratic leaders also cannot quibble with Costello’s fundraising and
work to help keep Democrats in the majority.

So far this cycle, Costello has handed out $67,000 to 30 Democratic
incumbents and an additional $25,000 to the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee (DCCC). In the 2008 cycle and 2006 cycles, he wrote
$205,000 and $250,000 worth of checks, respectively.

Costello spokesman David Gillies confirmed that his boss is actively
pursuing the chairmanship, but said he has consistently donated to
fellow Democrats for years.

In comparison, Johnson and Woolsey have donated much less money to
help their colleagues keep their seats.

Johnson has given $45,000 to others this cycle, which includes
donations to two candidates and $40,000 to the DCCC. In 2008, she
donated $138,000 to others, $111,000 of which went to the DCCC.
Meanwhile, Woolsey has handed out $17,000 in checks to 14 colleagues
this cycle and $46,000 to candidates in 2008.

Costello’s office did not respond to an inquiry about his interest in
the position.