House Energy and Commerce Committee news stories on Newser

White House Counsel Refuses Solyndra Subpoena

Mark Russell — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 05:33:34 CDT

The White House is fighting back over a House panel's subpoena of all Solyndra documents , refusing to comply and accusing the subpoena of being "driven more by partisan politics than a legitimate effort to conduct a responsible investigation," reports CNN . The "extremely broad request" is "a significant intrusion on executive...

House Panel Subpoenas White House Solyndra Docs

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:41:40 CDT

Despite last-minute efforts by the White House, the House Energy and Commerce Committee panel today authorized subpoenas for internal White House documents related to the Solyndra mess. The Washington Post calls the move “apparently unprecedented.” President Obama’s top lawyer had sought a deal and White House officials had delivered some...

White House Investigates Loans to Energy Department

Mark Russell — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 05:34:12 CDT

In the ugly aftermath of Solyndra , the White House yesterday ordered a 60-day independent review of the Energy Department's entire loan guarantee program, reports the LA Times . The review will encompass three loan programs and about two dozen loans worth about $36 billion. "While we continue to take steps to...

Solyndra Execs Will Take 5th at House Hearing

Matt Cantor — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:50:07 CDT

When Solyndra bosses arrive for a House hearing this week, they won’t be saying much. CEO Brian Harrison and CFO Bill Stover plan to take the Fifth during congressional questioning Friday, their lawyers told House investigators in letters. “I have advised Mr. Harrison that he should decline to answer questions...

Almost 10% of Medicare Payments Improper

Kevin Spak — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:11:33 CST

The federal government lost around $48 billion to fraudulent and improper Medicare claims last year—which made up nearly 10% of all payments the program doled out, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. And even that figure might be on the low side, because it doesn’t...

Relax, God Vowed Not to Destroy Earth: Would-Be Energy Chair

Rob Quinn — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 04:00:00 CST

A leading contender to chair the House Energy Committee has plucked his position on climate change straight from the pages of Genesis. People shouldn't worry about the planet being destroyed, Rep. John Shimkus testified last year, because God promised Noah after the flood that he wouldn't destroy the planet again....

Joe Barton's Office Deletes Triumphant Tweet

John Johnson — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:11:09 CDT

Joe Barton found himself having to backtrack again today, but this time it seems an aide is to blame. The chain of events goes like this: Barton apologized to fellow Republicans for his BP apology mess, then learned he'd get to keep his spot as ranking Republican on a plum...

Big Oil to House: It Won't Happen to Us

Kevin Spak — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:20:56 CDT

The biggest cheeses from the world’s biggest oil companies are on Capitol Hill today to try to convince Congress that the Deepwater Horizon spill was a freak occurrence, and that they can surely be trusted to drill safely. According to prepared testimony, Exxon Mobil’s chairman will also issue a subtle...

New BP Plan: Fix the Failed 'Blowout Preventer'

Kevin Spak — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:43:36 CDT

So far, nothing BP has tried to do to stop the flow of oil into the Gulf has worked, but company and Obama administration officials tell the New York Times they're optimistic about their latest plan: fixing the underwater “blowout preventer” that was supposed to seal off the spill in...