As part of a series of stories on House Ways and Means Committee members, National Journal has published a fairly detailed profile of Sandy Levin, the committee’s ranking Democrat.
The piece features Levin’s blue-collar roots, his role in the 1990s championing “fair trade” agreements, and his key stance during the George W. Bush administration that rejected the president’s Social Security privatization plan. It also reiterates that the lawmaker has no intentions of retiring.
The NJ story offers a mostly complimentary view of Levin, a Royal Oak Democrat who represents most of Macomb County. But it also takes a look at the congressman’s partisan battles and the toll they’ve taken.
Referring to fellow Michigan lawmaker Dave Camp, the Republican chairman of Ways and Means, Levin told NJ that their relationship has gone downhill because the congressman from Midland is swayed by “the
radicalization of the Republican Party” and refuses to act in a bipartisan manner. Camp maintains a diplomatic pose, saying that he understands Levin’s role as a Democratic partisan.
The story written by NJ’s Stacy Kaper then delves into the nitty gritty of Levin’s reputation on Capitol Hill:
“Other
Republicans complain that Levin is a hypocrite, arguing that he was
dismissive of Republican views when he stepped in as acting chairman in
2010.
“‘You
know what? You can just kind of keep your mouth shut because everyone
knows what your style was, and it wasn’t an inclusive style,’ said
committee member Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, referring to Levin. ‘It wasn’t a
bipartisan style. It was very dictatorial. You just call it for what it
is. I don’t think it is helpful to the institution when you want to
criticize, but when you led the place you were worse.’
” … (Still other) Republicans call Levin a tough liberal.
“‘Sandy
is a Democrat’s Democrat — he defends Democratic positions with vigor and
substance,’ said former Ways and Means ranking member Jim McCrery,
R-La. ‘I can imagine some Republicans kind of get their dander up when
they see Sandy out there carrying the Democratic flag. That’s what our
system is all about. Sometimes partisanship is called for. Sandy is very
thorough. Republicans know if they are in a debate with Sandy they
better be ready, they better be prepared.'”
