'Spare us the lecture': Senators clash over 'absurd' refusal to delay nominee's hearing
A Democratic senator slammed his Republican colleague on Tuesday night, who vowed to plow ahead with a key nominee's hearing despite lawmakers bemoaning they didn't have enough time to review "critical information."
Senate lawmakers were in a war of words over Chris Wright's confirmation hearing for the position of Energy Secretary. Senate Democrats, led by Martin Heinrich (D-NM), have urged Mike Lee (R-UT) to delay the hearing, complaining they haven't received all necessary paperwork, including FBI background checks, financial disclosures, and ethics agreements.
Lee and Heinrich are both on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
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But Republicans said they're moving forward with the hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
In response to Democrats, Lee told Punchbowl News reporter Andrew Desiderio the committee has received all necessary paperwork needed to move forward without any "unnecessary holdups."
"Mr. Wright has been fully transparent and cooperative throughout this process, working closely with the Office of Government Ethics and fully complying with its recommendations," Lee said in a statement to the outlet.
Lee also asserted that he too followed the rules of his committee and has made "every effort" to work with Senate Democrats, who he insisted will have "more than sufficient time to review his paperwork thoroughly before casting their votes in committee and on the Senate floor." Lawmakers, he said, can also submit questions for the record after the hearing.
"The time for needless delays is over," declared Lee.
Heinrich appeared none-too-pleased with his colleague, firing back a statement of his own.
"It is absurd that Chairman Lee thinks that 16 hours in the middle of the night is adequate time to thoroughly review this critical information — financial disclosures and ethics documents — and fulfill our constitutional duties to advise and consent," Heinrich said.
He continued his blistering statement, adding: "It is especially rich coming from a Senator who has made a routine of singlehandedly delaying or killing countless bills in the Senate. Spare us the lecture."
Wright's nomination, like many others in Trump's Cabinet, was not without controversy.
Wright is the CEO of a $3 billion fracking company and has never worked in a government position. He also denies climate change science.
"There is no climate crisis, and we're not in the midst of an energy transition either," Wright said in a video posted to LinkedIn, according to ABC News.
Wright is also an outspoken proponent of oil, natural gas, nuclear, solar, and geothermal energy, according to the report.