By Darren Samuelsohn - Fred Upton is no longer known as the “Young Slasher,” but the Michigan Republican is preparing to bring a sharp edge to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Upton earned the nickname early in his career for repeatedly offering floor amendments imposing across the board cuts on spending bills. Now, the 12-term congressman hopes to be chairman of the panel that will be a major focus of GOP efforts to fight President Barack Obama on everything from health care to energy p... Read more

By Darren Samuelsohn & Tony Romm - Don’t expect any action on net neutrality in a lame duck session if Republicans capture the House next week, the front-runner to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee says. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) told POLITICO on Wednesday that Republicans would have little incentive to support a temporary compromise that even telecom giants like AT&T and Verizon seemed to support. "Knowing we'll have a much stronger hand come January, there's no reason for us to com... Read more

By Sara Jerome - Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) issued a strong critique of NPR on Friday, joining a chorus of Republicans who say that the outlet's left-leaning reputation make it a questionable candidate for public funding. He critiqued Democrats for failing to speak out on the issue, suggesting that if the controvsersy did not relate to Fox News, they might be more vocal. Fox News has received positive press throughout the controversy for seeming to tolerate a wider swatch of free speech than NPR,... Read more

By John Eggerton - Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), former chair of the House Communications Subcommittee (and a leading contender for the chairmanship of the Energy & Commerce Committee if Republicans win next month), said Friday that NPR's firing of Juan Williams over his comments about Muslims on The O'Reilly Factor "tears down the thin veil that once shrouded this taxpayer-subsidized organization's political bias." He called it "an egregious assault on free speech and individual expression, the to... Read more

Pelosi defends House climate panel As printed in The Hill, October 20, 2010, Page 18 By Ben Geman House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday defended the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming after Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) called it “wasteful” and pointless. “Under Chairman [Edward] Markey’s leadership, the select committee has led in-depth examination of key energy and climate issues being debated in Congress. Since the committee’s creation, Congress increased vehic... Read more

By Robin Bravender - Congressional Republicans planning an assault on the Obama administration’s environmental record aim to turn Lisa Jackson into public enemy No. 1. On the campaign trail, Republicans have adopted the Environmental Protection Agency as a favorite symbol of the White House’s regulatory overreach. And behind the scenes in Washington, GOP staffers and K Street lobbyists who say they've been dissed by the EPA administrator are looking forward to getting some revenge. Like other se... Read more

By Ben Geman - Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) believes the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming should be scrapped and that Republicans should wage war on several Environmental Protection Agency rules if they regain the majority. Upton makes his case in a new Washington Times op-ed that offers a glimpse into where he might lead the House Energy and Commerce Committee if the GOP regains control in the upcoming midterm elections. He is considered a front-runner to win the powerful... Read more

By John Rossomando Republicans will have President Barack Obama’s czars and his use of regulatory powers to circumvent congressional inaction on issues such as cap and trade in GOP crosshairs if the party takes control in January. Since taking office, Obama has named more than 30 czars (though the exact number is hard to pin down) without Senate confirmation and congressional oversight, and together they hold power over everything from the environment and bank bailouts to the auto industry. The ... Read more

By Lou Mumford - The historic 2,700-page health care bill that passed late last year at the urging of President Barack Obama has so many flaws even many Democrats are unhappy with it, says U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph. "I'm convinced that if you had that vote today, you'd have a different outcome,'' Upton said Monday at a meeting of the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club. "It's not a good bill.'' One major problem is that it was passed without cost-cutting tort reform, Upton said. Another is a pro... Read more

By Aaron Mueller - U.S. Rep. Fred Upton will continue to be a busy man if elected to a 13th term serving the 6th congressional district. One of his biggest concerns is the 2,700-page health care bill that passed at the end of 2009. One of the provisions of the package that Upton is specifically attacking is section 9066, which requires businesses to submit a 1099 tax form for every vendor that sells them more than $600 worth of goods. “I pity the poor guy working at Staples,” Upton said in an in... Read more