Concerns About Pete Stark Thwart His Assuming the Chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee

Rep. Sander Levin, an expert on trade issues, has been tapped to take over the House Ways and Means Committee after Rangel stepped down and Rep. Pete Stark stepped aside. It has been widely reported that concerns by fellow members of the House Ways and Means Committee over Rep. Pete Stark’s politics, background and history of controversial statements led to the surprise decision on March 4th to have Congressman Levin replace the embattled Rep. Charles B. Rangel as the committee chairman. Stark had been in line for the powerful post after Rangel announced Wednesday that he was stepping down until a House ethics panel finished investigating him. Based upon the positions that Pete Stark historically has taken to limit revenue-generating opportunities for physicians, the prevailing assumption is that the physician community breathed a collective sigh of relief upon learning of this development.

For more information, please contact Adrienne Dresevic, Esq. or Carey F. Kalmowitz, Esq. at (248) 996-8510 or visit the HLP website.