TheHill.com - GOP charges Markey with climate [swindle] witness intimidation

Energy panel Republicans are levying accusations of witness intimidation against Democratic Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), one of the key authors of the contentious House climate change bill.

Republicans have seized on a letter – a copy of which was obtained by The Hill – that Markey penned to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff asking FERC to investigate the actions of a major energy company on the same day that the company’s CEO was set to testify before the energy panel on the dangers of a carbon cap and trade system.

According to the June 9 letter, Markey requested that Wellinghoff probe how thoroughly MidAmerican Energy Holdings – a $41 billion company in which Warren Buffet is a major investor – followed up on promises to invest as much as $15 billion in electric transmission expansion in the wake of the repeal of the Public Utility Holding Company Act in 2005.

In fact, Markey singled out MidAmerican Energy to also ask FERC to look into his concerns “that the repeal of PUHCA has also freed large multi-state public utility companies to diversify into other potentially risky business, to the potential detriment of utility investors and consumers.”
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“I am deeply troubled by the message this sends, whether it was accidental or intentional,” Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), a member of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee said on Thursday. “If I had gotten that letter, I would have gotten the message that it was sent to intimidate me.”

“It is essential that witnesses be allowed to come forward and give candid testimony,” Shadegg added.
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“This is another indication that Democrats on Capitol Hill are creating a culture of intimidation to pass bills that are unpopular with the American people,” said Michael Steel, spokesman for Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). [Via Climate Depot]