Seat Christensen

There is no shortage of House Democrats who want to fill the Energy and Commerce panel seat of Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.), who is retiring.

At least half a dozen members have expressed an interest in replacing him, including freshman Reps. Bruce Braley (Iowa), Jerry McNerney (Calif.), John Sarbanes (Md.) and Zack Space (D-Ohio). Rep. Doris Matsui (Calif.), who is in her second term, also has thrown her name into the ring.

While there are good arguments for each of these legislators to be appointed, they don’t measure up to the case for Del. Donna Christensen (Virgin Islands).

Christensen, who is in her sixth term, has the most seniority of the group. She is also the first female physician in the history of Congress — experience that would be invaluable on a panel that tackles many healthcare issues.

The Congressional Black Caucus is backing Christensen’s bid, but other members also have allies in the tussle.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is supporting Sarbanes, understandably seeking to keep the seat in Maryland hands.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has not publicly backed anyone, though Matsui and McNerney have some built-in advantages because they hail from the Golden State.

House Republicans are targeting McNerney, Space and Braley this fall, so getting the plum assignment would be something for a targeted Democrat to crow about back home.

But picking Christensen makes the most sense.

In one of their first acts in the majority last year, House leadership officials restored limited floor voting rights to the congressional delegates — rights that had been curtailed when Republicans took control of the lower chamber in 1995.

Picking Christensen would be consistent with that move, showing that House leaders believe that the delegates play a key role in Congress. There is little doubt that Christensen has put in her time and is qualified to replace Wynn.

According to the biography on her House website, Christensen began her medical career in the Virgin Islands in 1975 as an emergency physician and became board-certified in 1977. She now serves on the Homeland Security and Natural Resources committees.

If House Democrats retain their majority next year — and it is a very good bet that they will — there will be at least two additional Democratic openings on Energy and Commerce in the 111th Congress. So the remaining five contenders will be able to make their cases again in a matter of months.

Some might argue that it would be better to give the seat to a vulnerable member this year and let Christensen wait until 2009. That’s a political rationale. The right policy move would be to select Christensen now.