Brewing tension between Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee and ranking member Martin Heinrich boiled over into public view on Thursday, with Heinrich excoriating Lee from the dais for icing Democrats out of bipartisan committee work.
The broadside from Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, came during a committee markup to advance Federal Energy Regulatory Commission nominees and noncontroversial, bipartisan bills — typically a mild affair.
He lashed out at Lee (R-Utah), alleging a lack of consultation with the Democratic side of the committee on any of the bipartisan bills that the committee was considering, which is customary on many congressional committees.
“This agenda was not the result of collaboration or even consultation between the majority and minority, as has been the long-standing practice on this committee,” Heinrich said.
