Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. has used his position as ranking member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to work with Republicans on some issues and challenge them on others.
WASHINGTON -- Last year, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone had a big fight on his hands.
He wanted a coveted spot as the top Democrat of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, but his party's House leader, Nancy Pelosi, wasn't having any of it. She campaigned for a fellow Californian, Anna Eshoo, to win the job.
The battle waged on behind the scenes as the New Jersey congressman, a Washington veteran with more seniority, used his longtime contacts to prevail over Pelosi's choice.
The election made Pallone, 63, one of the most powerful Democrats in the House and in the New Jersey congressional delegation, giving him a big platform to shape legislation and ensure that the state's interests are represented. The Energy and Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over legislation dealing with trade, telecommunications, energy, health and the environment.
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Now nine months into his new post, Pallone (D-6th Dist.), is gaining a reputation as a Democrat who is not afraid to work with House Republicans -- or to publicly criticize the GOP.
For example, legislation passed by the Republican-dominated U.S. House in June to update a 40-year-old law regulating toxic chemicals included Pallone as a co-sponsor.
So too did a House-passed bill designed to speed research, development and release of new cures for diseases.
But when Gov. Chris Christie withdrew from a mulitistate compact to limit the emissions blamed for global warming, Pallone, who succeeded California's Harry Waxman in the post, didn't hesitate to blast the Republican governor who is now seeking his party's 2016 presidential nomination.
"Frank Pallone's ability to be an effective advocate of the Democratic position coupled with his ability to find common ground with Republicans on those areas where there is a common interest has been a major contribution to how the House works," said former Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.), now a lobbyist at the law firm Arent Fox. "He is by all accounts as staunch a partisan as Mr. Waxman and yet he's found some ways to find common ground with Republicans."
Pallone put it this way: "I see it more in terms of being able to help the state. So many issues relate to New Jersey jobs and New Jersey interests."
Waxman said the Democrats chose well.
"I'm delighted that Frank Pallone succeeded me," said Waxman, who had chaired the committee before Republicans won a House majority in 2011. "I have enormous respect for him. I felt comfortable leaving the top spot on the committee in his hands."
Current chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) once told the New York Times that one of his predecessors, Michigan Democrat John Dingell, explained the panel's jurisdiction this way: "If it moves it's energy, and if it doesn't, it's commerce."
When possible, Pallone has tried to work with Upton to develop legislation that can win the support of lawmakers from both parties.
"We respect each other," Pallone said. "We have a joint goal of trying to accomplish something."
Rich Gold, a partner in the lawyer-lobbying firm Holland & Knight who has met with Pallone on behalf of clients, calls Upton and Pallone "old school -- and old school works."
"They're both pragmatic problem-solvers at a time when the Democratic caucus has become much more liberal and the Republican caucus has leaned much more heavily toward the Tea Party," Gold said.
The Senate version of the chemical regulation act is named for the late U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and is co-sponsored by his successor, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). The 21st Century Cures Act includes a provision that could funnel millions of federal research dollars to New Jersey's pharmaceutical industry.
Pallone's committee post also gives him added stature by which to point out differences as well. He is passionate about the need for the government to curb the emissions contributing to climate change, even more so after Hurricane Sandy ravaged the Jersey Shore, parts of which lie in his congressional district.
"I'm constantly bringing up climate change," Pallone said. "I sound like a broken record."
Rep. Frank Pallone in his Washington office. With the demise of a special House committee to handle climate issues, Pallone's position on Energy and Commerce allows him to lead the fight alone.
"It's a position to speak out on the issue," said Waxman, who as chairman pushed legislation through the House in 2009 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, only to see the bill die in the Senate. "It has an important impact if they hear people they know and respect speak out about climate change."
Pallone is a leader of efforts to block the Obama administration from opening part of the Atlantic coast to offshore oil drilling. Emissions from burning fossil fuels are among those helping to fuel climate change.
"The environment is his top personal issue," said Jeff Tittel, president of the New Jersey Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy organization. "He's not just doing it because it's good politics, He really cares about this issue.'
In March, Pallone used a committee hearing to charge Christie with costing New Jersey $500 million by withdrawing from a northeastern compact designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By leaving the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the state missed out on revenue from selling permits to emit carbon dioxide, Pallone said. The loss: more than $114 million so far, plus an additional $387.1 million through 2020.
The following month, Pallone unsuccessfully tried to amend legislation in order to prevent governors like Christie from unilaterally withdrawing from federal multi-state compacts designed to reduce emissions.
"When Christie did the right thing, I would commend him," Pallone said. "But many times he does the wrong thing. I dont like to see his political ambitions drive him to take a position that I think is detrimental to the state."
Christie spokeswoman Nicole Sizemore declined to comment.
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Others said Pallone's decision to side with environmentalists and oppose projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast served only to drive up energy prices.
"Higher energy prices are particularly bad for our poorest, most vulnerable citizens, for whom every additional dollar spent on heating and cooling is one less dollar to pay for food, medicine, and the savings that will enable them to move out of poverty," said Erica Klemens, New Jersey director of Americans for Prosperity, an advocacy group financially supported by energy executives Charles and David Koch.
Should the Democrats win control of the House in a future election, Pallone would be in line to chair the committee and set the agenda on health and environmental issues.
"He has been playing a hand very effectively," English said. "It's fair to say he's positioned himself well so that when his party at some point might be back in the majority, he would have all of the working relationships he would need to drive a very aggressive agenda. That's as good as it gets."
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.