The Republican leadership of the House Energy and Commerce committee needed a staffer for the redundantly named Energy and Power subcommittee. And they found the perfect guy for the job, somehow.
From The Hill:
[Tom Hassenboehler is] returning to Capitol Hill from his role as vice president of policy development and legislative affairs with America’s Natural Gas Alliance, a trade group for gas producers.
Hassenboehler previously worked on the committee staff from 2004 until 2008, and then served three years as counsel to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee before going to the gas trade group.
This is Hassenboehler [PDF]. If you’re wondering what a “Vice President of Policy Development and Legislative Affairs” does, the answer is lobbying [PDF].
If you’re anything like me, you’re also wondering if the House will keep Hassenboehler busy.
[Committee Chairman Fred] Upton said Hassenboehler will be busy.
“We look forward to an aggressive energy agenda in the 113th Congress as we continue our pursuit of North American energy independence and work to keep energy stable and affordable for American families through oversight of existing policy and new solutions for the future,” Upton said.
Gosh, I wonder what Hassenboehler will suggest is a good way to keep energy stable and affordable for Americans. It is a big fucking mystery.
Please sign my Change.org petition calling for a constitutional amendment that will make Congress a division of ExxonMobil. Save everyone a lot of time and money and pretending.
Appropriately ominous.
