The Democratic-controlled Senate Budget Committee could be on track to revive a major House investigation into allegations that Big Oil has systematically downplayed the effects of its activities on driving global temperatures to dangerous highs.
A hearing the committee is holding this week is titled “Denial, Disinformation, and Doublespeak: Big Oil’s Evolving Efforts to Avoid Accountability for Climate Change.”
It will feature testimony from House Oversight and Accountability Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). That committee had, under Democratic control, previously probed the oil industry.
But by focusing once again on climate, Senate Budget Chair Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) seems likely to renew frustrations among committee Republicans, who argue he is straying too far from his mandate.
