Posted on: Tuesday, August 12, 2003

Inouye wants to serve on Commerce Committee

Associated Press

WAILEA, Maui — U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye hopes to become chairman of the important Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in 2005, or at least its ranking member, he said yesterday.

Which position Inouye would get depends on whether the Democrats can regain control of the Senate, where Inouye is the third-ranking senior member. The GOP holds a 51-48 majority in the body that has one independent. It would also depend on Inouye winning re-election next year, which at this point appears to be a slam dunk.

The ranking post on the Commerce Committee opened up with last week's announcement by Democratic Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings of South Carolina that he won't seek re-election next year. He's the ranking member of the committee, chaired by Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

In a keynote address to the Maui Economic Development Board's annual meeting at the Wailea Resort, Inouye said he won't be giving up his ranking position on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, where he could become chairman if the Democrats regain power.

If there is no power shift, his good friend, Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, would remain as chairman, Inouye said.

Inouye said his membership on the Commerce Committee would be important to Hawai'i because it deals with aviation, maritime, tourism, communication, high technology and oceans.