Senator Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, has frequently used the talking point that "global warming has paused." Now, soon after a group of NOAA scientists led by Thomas Karl released yet another study debunking the pause, Rep. Smith has launched an investigation, subpoenaing all emails and communications from the scientists.
Smith (R-TX) received more money from the oil and gas industry than any other industry in 2014. He has been a stalwart denier, responsible for various anti-science efforts that have led to headlines saying that Smith is turning the Science Committee "into a national embarrassment" and using his position to further the two-decade old, Koch-funded conservative mission of "waging a war on science."
For those who need further evidence that Smith's subpoena is not a legitimate request, see this .pdf of a letter from Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) to Rep. Smith. Johnson makes a number of good points, both in terms of process—like when Johnson calls out Smith's overly-broad request for all their global temperature data and all documents and communications regarding the study's data—and substance, like when Johnson calls out the fact that Smith already requested and received this information in briefings and prior letters. There's also the fact that the data and methodology Smith's asking for are already publicly available, and he and no one on his staff has the scientific literacy to reanalyze it.
Johnson then goes on to point out that Smith has a history of abusing his powers of oversight, on prior occasions using a subpoena to turn public health data over to "a researcher with extensive ties to the tobacco industry." She also points out that the committee, under his leadership, "appears to be adopting the discredited tactics of fossil fuel industry funded climate change denier groups" with these inquiries, which seem "designed to harass climate scientists, which is "a serious misuse of Congressional oversight powers."
Finally, Johnson states that the "baseless conflict" Smith has instigated "is representative of a disturbing pattern. Smith has issued more subpoenas in his two years and ten months than the committee has for its entire 54 year history. And despite his many subpoenas, Rep. Johnson "cannot think of a single significant oversight discovery" made by Smith.
This is the latest example of deniers going on fishing trips. Deniers continue to manufacture controversy like Climategate instead of accepting the scientific evidence that points to the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Given Smith's apparent love for fishing expeditions, but abject failure at successfully using his Congressional powers, perhaps he'd be better suited as a Captain than Congressman.
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