Senators Absent From Energy Committee Hearing on Offshore Oil Drilling
The next time you hear a U.S. Senator declare how vitally important offshore oil drilling is for the nation, you’ll have to ask yourself how she or he managed to come to that conclusion.
On Thursday, November 19 2009, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee convened a hearing on the environmental impact of offshore oil drilling. The following Senators were in attendance by 15 minutes after the hearing gaveled to order:
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Byron L. Dorgan (ND)
Robert Menendez (NJ)
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
The following Senators were absent, despite membership on the committee:
Evan Bayh (IN)
Robert Bennett (UT)
John Barrasso (WY)
Sam Brownback (KS)
Jim Bunning (KY)
Richard Burr (NC)
Maria Cantwell (WA)
Bob Corker (TN)
Tim Johnson (SD)
Mary L. Landrieu (LA)
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
John McCain (AZ)
James E. Risch (ID)
Bernie Sanders (VT)
Jeff Sessions (AL)
Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Mark Udall (CO)
Ron Wyden (OR)
The absence rate for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: 82%.
Senator Risch showed up late. He had no questions for any witnesses. Senator Shaheen also showed up late, as did Senator Landrieu, who came with charts to defend Big Oil companies.
Landrieu had no questions when she did finally arrive, instead speaking for 13 minutes’ time without letting witnesses get a word in edgewise.