Upton, Possible Energy Panel Chair, to Target Browner

Staff for Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who is positioning himself to become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent reporters a Nov. 1 column today written by the congressman that suggests he will investigate White House climate and energy policy coordinator Carol Browner.

The Nov. 1 Human Events column got little notice before the election, but Upton’s staff are giving it new life today.

Republicans have long criticized Browner and President Obama’s other so-called policy “czars” because they are not subject to Senate confirmation. In the column, Upton accused Browner of being overly secretive in her discussions with interest groups on key administration priorities like fuel economy rules and cap-and-trade.

Here’s the relevant portion of the column:

If Browner were a Bush administration appointee, you can bet that Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), a tenacious, partisan investigator, would have conducted vigorous inquiries and eviscerations surrounding such allegations.  Unfortunately, we have not seen the same zeal for executive branch oversight from the Democratic majority this session of Congress.  In fact, over the past two years, Browner has NEVER testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee—not one single time.  Given her extensive influence within the administration, one would think Waxman would want to hear her at some point.

Given her absence from Capitol Hill for the last two years, there is little doubt that she will surely become a familiar face with Republicans in charge.  We have questions, and the American people deserve answers.  The free pass of zero-accountability for Obama Czars will soon end.