Markey calls Big Oil CEOs to testify as probes into Gulf of Mexico spill intensify
By Ben Geman - 04/29/10 02:31 PM ET
A senior House Democrat wants the CEOs of the country’s largest oil companies to testify on Capitol Hill, signaling increased political pressure on the industry following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the Democratic push for climate legislation.
Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) — a chief ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) — is calling on top officials from ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, BP and Shell to appear before the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, which he leads.
“From the health of our economy to the health of our environment, it’s time for the American public to hear from the oil companies,” Markey said Thursday in a prepared statement. “Their opinions and answers on the issues of energy policy are vital given the push in Congress to construct a comprehensive energy independence strategy for our nation.”
The hearing — which has not been scheduled — will provide a high-profile forum for discussing environmental risks in the wake of last week’s oil rig explosion, which has created a major spill that crews are struggling to contain. An estimated 5,000 barrels of oil per day are leaking into the Gulf of Mexico from the damaged subsea well.
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http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/95141-markey-calls-big-oil-ceos-to-testify-as-probes-into-the-gulf-of-mexico-spill-intensify