Now it's just getting silly. As a friend said, exactly what "situation" are we in?
E&E News (10/5/23) reports: "Willie Phillips is still acting chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a White House official said Wednesday, despite the release of a document signed by the president that lists him as chair. Phillips began leading the commission in January following the departure of former FERC Chair Richard Glick. At the time, a White House official said that Phillips, a Democrat, would be FERC’s acting chair until the Biden administration could nominate and confirm a “permanent” chair. Then this week, the Institute for Energy Research released a document signed by President Joe Biden dated Jan. 3 that designated Phillips as “Chair” of FERC. The document, which FERC confirmed, has ignited a debate over the meaning of an 'acting' FERC chair and raised questions about Phillips’ official title. According to the White House, however, nothing has changed. 'It’s standard procedure to name an acting chair in a situation like this,' the White House said in a statement Wednesday to E&E News, confirming that Phillips is 'still acting chair.'...Asked about the new letter published by the Institute for Energy Research, FERC spokesperson Mary O’Driscoll said this week that it 'reflects accurately that President Biden designated Willie Phillips to lead FERC on January 3, 2023.' 'Since that date, Chairman Phillips has served fully and faithfully as Chair of the Commission, and continues to carry out all of his responsibilities for the executive and administrative operation of the Commission,' O’Driscoll said in a statement. Thomas Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research, criticized the White House statement that Phillips remains acting chair. 'What do they suppose that even means? What are they attempting to gain by sticking with this ‘acting’ charade?' Pyle said in an email. 'The order from President Biden says he is Chairman. Either you are the chair or you are not.'"
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