Might Tennesseans Get an Assist from a California Congressman?

Hugh Bartling asserts that Rep. Henry Waxman (D-California) can take a transforming initiative on the nation's energy future and industry compliance reform by immediately launching hearings into the TVA ash spill as Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. While the LAist sees that as more influence for California in Washington and good over all for the country, it wouldn't hurt average Tennesseans to have some elected official represent their concerns about a safe environment over and above coal industry and TVA interests. Perhaps Tennessee's elected officials are just too enmeshed in local corporate interests to be of immediate help.  We may have to find our advocates elsewhere, and even if ours come around at least Waxman may keep the spill on a front burner in the national consciousness.