U.S.

On January 24, 2011, Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), chair of the House Natural Resources Committee said in a press release, “People have a right to see and hear what their Congress is debating.”

This pledge clearly doesn’t mean legislation he’s working on, according to a report from Politico out tonight:

Talking Points Memo reports this morning on an interview Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) gave to ABC News on Wednesday night. In the interview, Rep. Barton--who famously apologized to BP last summer--stands behind the billions in taxpayer money oil companies after being asked if companies like Exxon-Mobile should be getting them.

A day after a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on legislation that would gut some important provisions of the Clean Air Act, POLITICO reports this morning that energy lobbyists are “scrambling to win over the newbie lawmakers with finely tuned talking points, briefing books — and of course, campaign contributions for Republicans, some of whom already are facing tough races just two years out.”

Bloomberg reports this morning that the oil giant BP has hired the Republican lobbying firm Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, adding a few more lobbyists to its already strong stable of K Street powerbrokers.

Let’s follow the money:

Public Campaign Action Fund issued a press release today detailing how longtime Republican Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) and Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) have pledged to reward big oil and coal interests after taking huge amounts of industry cash. 

The Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) launched a new series of reports, "Fueling Washington," highlighting the big money going into support or defeat (but let's face it, mostly defeat) comprehensive energy reform in Congress this year.

According to CRP:

In an (un)surprising move, the oil industry is lining up to oppose House measures introduced this week to respond to the BP oil spill, according to National Journal’s Congress Daily (Subscription). The article states that two of measured in particular, one that imposes "unlimited liability on oil companies and another that federally mandates standards for well designs and operational practices."

According to the story:

This morning, we reported that Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) apologized to BP for the White House pressure being placed on them. Under pervasive public pressure from all sides of the political debate, Rep. Barton has now apologized, saying he regrets "the impact" of his statement."

Well you know, what Rep. Barton, we don't accept your apology:

Just moments ago at a U.S. House Committee hearing featuring energy executives, Texas Congressman Joe Barton (R-Texas) said he was "ashamed" of the White House's pressure on the company to take specific actions in response to the Gulf oil spill disaster.