Environment

Jim DeMint Protects Big Oil

The Republican obstructionism continues:

On the Senate floor, Republican Jim DeMint blocked a move to bring up a Democrat-sponsored bill that would have granted subpoena power to the White House oil spill commission. A similar measure passed the House last week by a vote of 420-1.

A spokesman for DeMint said the South Carolina senator himself does not object to giving the commission subpoena power, but was acting on behalf of "members of the Republican conference."

Unlike Mary Landrieu, however, DeMint is speaking for his entire conference.

Adding... And here's something really smart -- they just lifted the block. But they're still on record as having blocked the commission's subpoena powers.