-Caveat Lector- California senators urge probe into energy industry's reported influence Copyright � 2001 Nando Media Copyright � 2001 Scripps McClatchy Western Service By MICHAEL DOYLE, Scripps-McClatchy Western Service WASHINGTON (May 27, 2001 11:22 a.m. EDT) - Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called Friday for an investigation into accounts of industry pressure on federal energy regulators. With the Senate about to fall back into Democratic control, and ahead of a visit to California from President Bush, Feinstein urged hearings into allegations concerning the Texas energy company Enron and a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The New York Times reported that Enron's chairman, Kenneth Lay, had told FERC Chairman Curtis Hebert Jr. that Hebert's hopes for keeping the chairmanship would be aided by the industry if Hebert played ball. Specifically, the paper reported that Hebert was advised to use his regulatory position to help open up the electricity transmission business to companies like Enron. "While Mr. Lay's account differs, it is clear that the citizens of the United States, especially the people of California, who are suffering from FERC's failure to do its job, deserve an investigation and full public hearing into what happened," Feinstein said in a statement. Feinstein's fellow California Democrat, Sen. Barbara Boxer, added in a statement that "this story provides further evidence concerning the close ties of this administration to major energy companies." Boxer termed these relationships "particularly disturbing" because Enron is one of the companies "making enormous profits" during California's current energy crisis. The Democrats' anger at FERC precedes the New York Times report. Along with other California lawmakers, they have wanted the commission - now short-handed and operating with three Senate-confirmed commissioners - to impose price caps on Western power. The commission, led by Hebert, has so far refused to impose the price caps that the energy industry opposes. According to the Times' account, Lay told Hebert that "he and Enron would like to support me as chairman, but we would have to agree on principles" concerning energy regulation. "It would be unconscionable if any of the nation's electricity traders or generators were in a position to be able to determine who chairs or becomes a member of the commission," Feinstein said. Lay told the Times that Hebert had requested Enron's support for keeping the commission's chairmanship, and that he had "very possibly" discussed with Hebert issues relating to the commission's regulating access to the business of energy transmission. An ally of Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, Hebert was first named to the energy commission by President Clinton in 1999. Bush named him chairman Jan. 22, though he has not been considered secure in the position. Besides being a major energy company, Enron is a major political player. The Houston-based company contributed $1.1 million to Republican campaign committees in 1999 and 2000, and $532,000 to Democratic committees during the same period, according to records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. ANOMALOUS IMAGES AND UFO FILES http://www.anomalous-images.com <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
