The House Oversight Committee is recommending Howard Shelanski, the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs be found in contempt of Congress for not cooperating with the investigation into the rule making process for WOTUS. Nebraska Farm Bureau National Affairs Coordinator Jordan Dux calls this a very significant development.

He says the House committee wants to make sure all the information on how the WOTUS rule came about is brought forward with complete transparency.

Dux says all federal agencies that overstep their authority need to come clean with Congress and present all the information they’re asked to provide to lawmakers.

Contempt of Congress carries a maximum fine of $100,000 and a year in Federal prison. However, the threat is often used to compel officials to comply with investigations.