Raskin calls Republican senator 'climate fatalist' in oil industry hearing
The Senate Budget Committee’s Democratic majority and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) took aim at the oil industry Wednesday for historically minimizing the impacts of fossil fuels on the climate in a hearing on the results of a bicameral investigation into the industry’s efforts.
In perhaps the most contentious exchange of the hearing, during which senators from both parties were cordial with Raskin, the Maryland Democrat also turned his criticism on a Republican committee member, calling Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) a “climate fatalist.”
In testimony before the committee in the first half of the hearing, Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, told the panel that "instead of telling the world about the perils of global warming and working to change their business model, the companies suppressed relevant scientific findings for decades and came to challenge and contradict urgent calls by scientists to take climate change seriously as a global threat.”
“As the experts told us, this pattern of lying and evasion set the country back decades in our ability to seriously address and manage climate change,” Raskin added.
Raskin’s testimony echoes the report issued Tuesday by the Senate Budget Committee and Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. The report, the continuation of an investigation that began while the latter committee was under Democratic control, alleges the oil industry knowingly suppressed scientific evidence of the relationship between fossil fuels and climate change. It further claims the industry publicly supported efforts to reduce emissions while privately working against them or relying on front groups and trade organizations to oppose them.
Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee largely did not address the material in the report, with ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) calling it an inappropriate matter for the panel to review, saying “this committee doesn’t legislate climate policy.”
Johnson invoked a declaration by more than 1,800 scientists that “there is no climate emergency.” Johnson has frequently touted the document, which critics have noted is signed by numerous experts in fields unrelated to climatology, such as engineering. One of its highest-profile signatories, Nobel laureate Ivar Giaever, won the prize for research relating to electrical superconductors.
Johnson, who was recorded calling human-caused climate change "bullshit" in 2021, said he was a “climate realist” rather than a climate change denier, with Raskin countering that the Wisconsin senator was a “climate fatalist.”
Raskin elaborated on the exchange to reporters after the hearing, saying “mixed in with his remarks was the idea that all of this is just a product of nature and there's nothing we can do, it's out of our hands. And I think that is a recipe for capitulation to disaster.”
In the second half of the hearing, Sharon Eubanks, former director of the Justice Department’s tobacco litigation team, called for similar legal strategies to be used against the oil industry. She pointed to findings in the tobacco lawsuits that the industry had knowingly suppressed scientific evidence, akin to the allegations made in the committees’ report on the oil industry.
Date: |
Filter
-
‘This is Bill. Bill Hwang’: US jury hears founder’s call to Archegos lenders
Recording comes in trial over whether investor and other executives duped Wall Street banks that lost billionsFinancial Times - Business -
In Maryland's Senate race, Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks beat Rep. David Trone in the Democratic primary to face former two-term Republican Gov. Larry Hogan.
In Maryland’s Senate race, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks beat Rep. David Trone in the Democratic primary to face former two-term Republican Gov. Larry Hogan.The Wall Street Journal - World -
OPEC Sticks to Oil-Demand View
OPEC left its estimates for global oil-demand growth unchanged for this year and next, while reporting a fall in crude output as the market awaits the cartel’s next production policy move at its upcoming meeting in June.The Wall Street Journal - World -
IEA lowers 2024 oil-demand forecast
The International Energy Agency cut its forecast for oil-demand growth this year as subdued industrial activity and mild winter temperatures reduced gasoil consumption across some of the world’s largest economies, particularly in Europe.MarketWatch - Business -
A U.S. Military-Industrial Complex? If Only
America is unable to match China’s surge capacity in shipbuilding.The Wall Street Journal - World -
Border dispute hinders Niger’s China-built oil pipeline
Landlocked country on verge of becoming a regional oil major if it can resolve its differences with neighbouring BeninFinancial Times - World - China -
Democrats probe Trump’s request for campaign cash from Big Oil
House Democrats are probing President Trump’s request for $1 billion in campaign cash from major oil companies. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) penned a letter to CEOs of eight energy companies and an oil lobbying group that reportedly attended a ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Top House Democrat demands answers on Trump dinner with oil executives – live
Jamie Raskin writes to nine executives after report says Trump promised to repeal regulations if they each gave $1bn to campaign. Trump hush-money trial – live updatesUS House in session with major agenda but its speaker is awol at Trump trialThe ...The Guardian - World - Donald Trump -
House Democrats launch investigation into Trump’s alleged offers to oil executives
Democrats on the House oversight committee sent letters to oil executives asking about alleged $1bn quid pro quo offer. House Democrats have launched an investigation into a meeting between oil company executives and Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago ...The Guardian - World - Donald Trump -
IEA Lowers 2024 Oil-Demand Growth Forecast on Slow Start of the Year
The International Energy Agency cut its forecast for oil-demand growth this year as subdued industrial activity and mild winter temperatures reduced gasoil consumption across some of the world’s largest economies, particularly in Europe.The Wall Street Journal - World
More from The Hill
-
Haley draws support from Trump in Maryland, Nebraska, West Virginia primaries
Former GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley garnered significant shares of the vote in three Republican primaries Tuesday, despite dropping of the race over two months ago. In Maryland, Haley brought in 20 percent of the vote to former President ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
We invest in our military to prevent attacks — why not also invest in preventing the next pandemic?
The next pandemic will arise as unexpectedly and swiftly as the last two.The Hill - Politics -
Carper, Scott introduce legislation to extend hospital-at-home for five years
Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) will introduce legislation Wednesday that would extend the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) waiver program past its 2024 expiration date. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for ...The Hill - Politics -
Hey, Nebraska — don't mess with the Electoral College
The Electoral College has, on the whole, helped build a more inclusive American politics.The Hill - Politics -
Here's how Donald Trump loses the 2024 election
If it becomes an election about personality, then that’s how Donald Trump ends up losing.The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump