K Street Discovers a New Star

Rockefeller’s Downtown Orbit Is Small — but Influential

• By Anna Palmer
• Roll Call Staff
• March 25, 2009, Midnight

It took more than 20 years for Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to rise to the top of one of the most powerful committees in the Senate. But just three months after taking the gavel of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Rockefeller is reinvigorating the business-oriented panel — and increasing his fundraising operation to match his newfound clout on Capitol Hill.