Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D-S.C.), the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, has announced his intention to retire at the end of his term. His departure--in conjunction with other pending turnover on the panel prompted by term-limit rules--may significantly alter the tenor of the panel.
Hollings has served in the Senate since 1966 and has either chaired the Commerce committee or been its ranking member for two decades. CQ Today reports that Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) is Hollings' likely successor as ranking member.
On the Republican side of the panel, Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) faces term limits imposed by his caucus' internal rules in 2005, and his likely successor is considered to be Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Ark.), who now chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. The gavel of that panel, in turn, is expected to be handed to Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.).
