LANDRIEU HOLDS LOUISIANA HEARING ON ENERGY PRODUCTION: Sen. Mary Landrieu will soon leave behind her Small Business Committee gavel in favor of chairing the powerful Energy and Natural Resources Committee – but first she’s making sure to get in a final word on energy and small business issues in her home state. The Louisiana Democrat will hold a field hearing today on “the role of domestic energy production in creating high-skilled, high-wage jobs for America’s 21st century economy,” according to a committee notice. Landrieu is facing a tough reelection this fall, and while issues like Obamacare are dominating the race, her increasing clout on the Hill on energy issues is turning out to be one of Landrieu’s biggest assets in the oil- and gas-heavy state. The hearing today is in Lafayette at 3 p.m. CST.
Oil and gas companies have been supporting Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana rather than her GOP challenger Representative Bill Cassidy. The rises of moderate Democrats have changed the landscape of oil companies backing only Republican Senators. However, the Republicans are confident in the upcoming Senate election cycle, due to the fact that Landrieu has supported President Obama policies that are detrimental to the industry. Cassidy’s election win will help the Republicans take back the Senate in 2014.