I have not yet found a transcript either but here is a summary of yesterdays House Commerce subcommittee hearing from todays Washington Post:
> In the Commerce subcommittee, investigators resumed their inquiry into why Energy Department contracts awarded to Molten Metals increased from $1.2 million during the Bush administration to $33 million under the Clinton administration.
During this time, the firm and some of its officers contributed to Democratic Party political committees, and Molten Metal was represented in Washington by lobbyist Peter S. Knight, a former chief of staff for Vice President Gore who later chaired the Clinton-Gore reelection committee.
Questioning a panel of mostly mid-level Energy Department employees, Republicans suggested that Molten Metal's contributions and Knight's influence played a role in the firm's success at winning contracts to develop hazardous waste cleanup technology. The assertion was denied Wednesday by Thomas P. Grumbly, a former Energy Department assistant secretary who oversaw the project. Yesterday the career employees denied Grumbly had exerted any pressure.
The witnesses testified that Grumbly expressed interest in Molten Metal's technology, and asked by Rep. Barton whether he thought "political factors" were involved in the firm's contracts, department official Tom Anderson said, "Well, yes. Once it gets up to the assistant secretary realm about funding specific projects it's political."
At that point, Klink, the panel's ranking Democrat, shouted, "If we're going to bring down these people, I would ask for evidence." When Barton ruled him out of order, Klink replied, "Call the Capitol Police and haul me out of here."
The rest of the hearing remained calm. Gerald Boyd, an acting deputy assistant secretary in the department, said the contract records showed "no minority opinions saying we object," adding, "There were certainly many arguments and disagreements, which is normal in the research and development process, but I believe all the disagreements were resolved." <
By Guy Gugliotta and Edward Walsh
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, November 8, 1997; Page A08
The Washington Post
- Eric - |
