House rules prohibit members of Congress from heading up two committees, so Sensenbrenner would have to give up his leadership of the Science panel to take the reigns at Judiciary.
The opening on top of the Judiciary Committee comes from Rep. Henry Hyde, an Illinois Republican best-remembered for his role in the impeachment of President Clinton.
Hyde has served six years as head of Judiciary, the maximum amount of time allowed under term limits on committee chairmen adopted by the Republican leadership in 1994.
Next in line for the top of the Science Committee is Rep. Sherwood L. Boehlert (pictured at lead of story), a Republican from the upstate New York city of Utica. Boehlerts district includes the U.S. Air Forces Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, which specializes in information technologies.
"It is something we would welcome," Boehlert spokesman Jim Philipps said. "Weve got a lot of ideas about what wed like to accomplish on the Science Committee." He declined to elaborate on the congressmans goals for space issues.
Since the GOP maintained its hold on the House in Tuesdays elections, the Republican leadership will select committee chairmen. While seniority typically guides the selection process, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, (R-Illinois) can take issues like geographical origin and fundraising prowess into account.
Philipps said that Boehlert expects to receive the chairmanship, but that "nothing is set in stone."
"Boehlert doesnt have desks and chairs picked out up on the third floor," he said.
Space observers say that Boehlert has a strong record on space issues and has regularly been a backer of the commercialization of space and the
.Boehlerts chairmanship could be a good sign for commercialization of the space station, but it's unclear how many space bills will make it into law given how divided the new Congress will be.
Beyond space issues, Boehlert has carved out a moderate record in the increasingly conservative Republican Party during his 18 years in the House. Much of his signature legislation focuses on environmental issues, and he is also chair of the House panel that oversees water resources and the environment.
If Boehlert becomes the head of the Science Committee, House rules would force him to give up his oversight of the water subcommittee. Philipps said that the congressman would still be able to carry out his environmental goals without heading that subcommittee.
"You could put him in a box and he would still be able to stay involved with environmental issues," he said.
Boehlert is also an avid fan of the New York Yankees -- perhaps a natural connection for the congressman who represents Cooperstown, New York, home to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1999, in fact, Boehlert -- who owns a minority interest in the Utica Blue Sox, a Class A minor league baseball team -- co-sponsored a successful House resolution to honor Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio.
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