In a major win for all consumers, Democrats in the House of Representatives voted Thursday to put Rep. Henry Waxman of California in charge of a key panel that will have oversight over global warming issues in the new Congress.

He'll head the House Energy and Commerce Committee, replacing Michigan Democratic Rep. John Dingell, 82, the most senior member in the House. Waxman is probably best-known for his tenacity in taking-on the tobacco industry and developing many rules concerning their manufacture and, especially, their sale. Waxman will demand better mileage, lower emissions and more safety from Detroit-made vehicles.

(Above, vehicles like GM's hydrogen fueled fuel-cell EV Equinox, are slowly capturing the public's imagination; Henry Waxman will be a pit bull, but without lipstick, working with Detroit to try and save the US auto industry through development of more vehicles like Equinox).

In front of two House committees this week, the Detroit Three were represented by their respective CEOs, Chrysler by Robert Nardelli, Ford by Alan Mulally and GM by Richard Wagoner. Their testimony was that they believe the crisis in their business is all about tight credit, forcing consumers who want to buy cars and trucks to wait until the economy comes back.

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