Republicans force House subcommittee to adjourn during hearing on climate change

Republicans on a House Natural Resources Committee subpanel successfully managed on Tuesday to force a motion to adjourn at the start of a hearing on climate change due to the number of Democratic absences.

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations ranking member Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) kicked off the hearing — titled The Denial Playbook: How Industries Manipulate Science and Policy from Climate Change to Public Health — by arguing the topics didn’t fall under the panel’s purview.

“This is now the seventh Oversight hearing related to climate change that the majority is holding this month, starting with a full committee hearing. It’s been a bit concerning how this all fits within this committee’s jurisdiction,” Gohmert said during his opening statement.

{mosads}The firebrand Texas conservative argued that witnesse testimonies on football concussions, opioid addiction, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and epidemiology fall outside of the panel’s sphere. Gohmert said while there were things they could all likely agree on, the topics would be better suited for the Energy and Commerce Committee and Education and Labor Committee.

“When it comes to matters of climate change, the House rules explicitly references several topics — topics include such as conservation of energy resources, almost anything that has to do with renewable energy, energy policy, environmental research, scientific research, the National Science Foundation and even the National Weather Service,” he continued.  “None of these areas fall within the jurisdiction of this committee.”

When subcommittee Chairman T.J. Cox (D-Calif.) initially refused to agree to Gohmert’s motion to adjourn, the Texas lawmaker requested a roll call vote ,in which Republicans prevailed with a 4-2 margin.

“Today, the GOP members of our committee walked out of our hearing on climate denial, refusing to listen to our witnesses,” Cox tweeted.

Today, the GOP members of our committee walked out of our hearing on climate denial, refusing to listen to our witnesses. You couldn’t have a more ironic response to a hearing on climate denialism – but that’s not stopping us. We are still going, tune in if you can! https://t.co/fHX9qtdTmQ

— Congressman TJ Cox (@RepTjCox) February 26, 2019