I started my first diary here when Tom Davis (VA-11) said he "never took a nickel" from oil companies." When he made that statement, he had taken over over $1.25 million from energy PACs.
Davis also turned the Government Reform Committee into a meaningless exercise, consolidating subpoena power in himself alone as Chairman, issuing fewer than 5 subpoenas during a period of unimaginable fraud and waste, and arranging for firms to hire his wife to coach them for any hearings he did have. He defended his inability to find his own balls while he was sitting on the pile of all that money by saying he held extensive hearings on the failure of oil companies to pay royalties for drilling in public parks. Yesterday, he voted against it.
Crossposted on RaisingKaine.
Does someone with Davis's character deserve to reach his goal to take over Sen. Jim Webb's title as VA's junior senator? On the campaign trail in 2006, Davis took credit for any progress in energy and environmental policy since 1998 by saying he held hearings on the very issue of royalties for drilling on public land that was covered by this bill. See an example in the debate here.
By the way, the Higham/OHarrow serieson the costs of the failure of Davis's Committee to oversee corruption continues on page A1 in WaPo today.
From WaPo:
Date-----Vote number-----Act name-----Davis Vote-----GOP Position---Dem Position
1/18/07 Vote 40: Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act No No Yes
1/18/07 Vote 39: Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act No No Yes
1/18/07 Vote 38: Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act Yes Yes No
1/18/07 Vote 37: Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act No No Yes
1/18/07 Vote 36: Providing for the Consideration of H.R. 6, Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act No No Yes
1/18/07 Vote 35: Providing for the Consideration of H.R. 6, Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act No No Yes