Tag: Earl Blumenauer

WASHINGTON -- After almost a decade of oil-friendly Republicans controlling Congress, the energy sector faced a dramatically different political landscape Wednesday. Even before the election, Democrats made clear they planned oversight hearings into President Donald Trump's efforts to cut regulations around oil and gas drilling and other industrial activity. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., who is expected to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said last week that Democrats would "focus on the need to address climate change by looking at its impacts on our communities and economy, and by holding the Trump administration accountable for dangerous policies that only make it worse." “How many other things do they want to pursue and how much time do they have? There’s people who want to spend all their times impeaching Trump.” Democrats will have the power to hold hearings, conduct investigations and pass bills in the House. There will be hearings o-rama. There will be hearings o-rama. "We don't see them rolling President Trump, but the pace of deregulation at EPA will probably slow down because officials will be much busier dealing with subpoenas.” For now, most expect the partisan gridlock that has pervaded Washington over the past decade to continue. But a couple energy issues have increased odds for action with a Democratic majority in the House, McNally said. Lee Fuller, executive vice president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, which represents smaller oil and gas producers, said Democrats undoubtedly will come under pressure from their constituencies to take action against climate change and rein in oil and gas development.