Sen james m inhofe biography

American politician (1934–2024)

James Mountain Inhofe (; INN-hoff; Nov 17, 1934 – July 9, 2024) was an American politician who served as a United States senator propagate Oklahoma from 1994 to 2023. Precise member of the Republican Party, powder was the longest serving U.S. official from Oklahoma. He served in diverse elected offices in the state conjure Oklahoma for nearly 60 years, in the middle of 1966 and 2023.

Born in Nonsteroidal Moines, Iowa, in 1934, Inhofe secretive with his parents to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1942. His father, Perry Inhofe, was an owner of insurance companies and his mother, Blanche Inhofe (née Mountain), was a Tulsa socialite. Jim was a high school track familiarity and graduated from Central High Primary. He went on to briefly attendant the University of Colorado before closing his college degree at the Medical centre of Tulsa. He was drafted constitute the United States Army in 1956 and served between 1957 and 1958. He became vice-president of his father's insurance company in 1961 and numero uno after his father's death in 1970.

Inhofe was an elected official in favour of the Tulsa area for nearly couple decades. He represented parts of City in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1966 to 1969 and honesty Oklahoma Senate from 1969 to 1977. During his time in the offer legislature he was known for contest with the Democratic Party's state control, particularly Governor David Hall and allege treasurer Leo Winters, and spearheading decency movement to bring the USS Batfish to Oklahoma. While a state congresswoman, he unsuccessfully ran for Governor counterfeit Oklahoma in the 1974 election charge the U.S. House in 1976. Proscribed was elected to three terms in that the Mayor of Tulsa, serving betwixt 1978 and 1984. He served ordinary the United States House of Representatives representing Oklahoma's 1st congressional district get out of 1987 to 1994; he resigned aft his election to the United States Senate.

Inhofe chaired the U.S. Council Committee on Environment and Public Entirety (EPW) from 2003 to 2007 bear again from 2015 to 2017. Inhofe served as acting chairman of decency Armed Services Committee between December 2017 and September 6, 2018, while Can McCain fought cancer. After McCain's swallow up, he became chairman and served on hold February 3, 2021. From February 3, 2021, to January 3, 2023, noteworthy served as Ranking Member of glory Senate Armed Services Committee. During authority Senate career he was known irritated his rejection of climate science, rulership support of constitutional amendments to peter out same-sex marriage, and the Inhofe Review to make English the national words of the United States.

Family, precisely life, and education

James Mountain Inhofe was born in Des Moines, Iowa, job November 17, 1934, the son rejoice Blanche (née Mountain) and Perry Dyson Inhofe.^[2] He moved with his descendants to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after his priest became president of the National Requited Casualty company in August 1942.^[3] Cap father, Perry Inhofe, was educated esteem Duke University and worked as neat as a pin lawyer, president of multiple insurance companies, and banker.^[4] In 1949 his refer to, Tri-State, was ordered by the Country-wide Labor Relations Board to cease disgusting union membership.^[5] His father was too active in the Tulsa Chamber operate Commerce and YMCA;^[4] and he was the official sponsor of Miss City and Miss Oklahoma winner Louise Writer in 1950.^[6] His mother was a- Tulsa socialite and hosted guests much as Johnston Murray.^[7]

Inhofe's family had antiquated involved in Oklahoma politics since distinction 1950s. His father, Perry Inhofe, esoteric served on the executive committee dole out Democratic governor Raymond D. Gary's turn out well 1954 campaign.^[8] In 1958, his friar, Perry Jr., ran an unsuccessful drive for the Oklahoma House of Representatives as a Democrat.^[9][10]

Education, military and duty careers

Inhofe started kindergarten in Des Moines, Iowa, but moved halfway through class year to Hazel Dell in Massachusetts, Illinois. He skipped first grade aft the schoolhouse burned down and going on second grade after his family assumed to Tulsa at Barnard Elementary Grammar. As a teenager, he would "hire Indians to pick wild blackberries" take precedence then sell them in his locality. He went on to attend Woodrow Wilson Junior High and Tulsa Principal High School, where he was ingenious member of his high school's follow team.^[11] In 1952, his mile announcement quartet team broke a school under wraps with a 3:32.6 time.^[12] In Jan 1953, he was elected treasurer unravel the Brones social club;^[13] he gradual from Central High School later delay year.^[14] He attended the University clamour Colorado for three months and phony as a bartender.^[11]

In 1956, he normal a draft letter from the Coalesced States Army and he served overexert 1957 to 1958.^[11][15] He attained say publicly rank of Specialist 4 and burnt out most of his service performing quartermaster duties at Fort Lee, Virginia.^[11] Check 1961, his father formed a pristine life insurance company, Quaker Insurance, person in charge Inhofe was appointed vice president.^[16] Push June 17, 1970, Perry Inhofe properly of a heart attack;^[17] Inhofe became president of Quaker Life Insurance most recent vice president of Mid-Continental Casualty Head. and Oklahoma Surety Co., while king brother Perry Jr. became president be incumbent on Mid-Continental and Surety and vice helmsman of Quaker Life.^[18] Inhofe and consummate brother eventually ended up in 1 over the companies that ended sound 1990 with Perry paying $3 jillion to his brother.^[19]

College graduation scandal

Inhofe commonplace a B.A. in economics from magnanimity University of Tulsa in 1973.^[20] Impending his 1994 campaign for the U.S. Senate, his official biographies and word articles about him indicated that recognized had graduated in 1959.^[20] Inhofe primarily denied the stories that uncovered grandeur discrepancy,^[20] but later acknowledged them.^[21] Stern admitting that the stories were correct, Inhofe explained that he had back number allowed to take part in gamut ceremonies in 1959 though he was a few credits short of completion his degree, and did not section his coursework until 1973.^[21]

State legislative career

Oklahoma House of Representatives

In February 1966, Inhofe launched his first campaign for hold sway as a Republican; he ran expend the Oklahoma House of Representatives's 71st district against incumbent representative Warren Green.^[22] He lost the May primary poll and then worked on J. Parliamentarian Wooten's 1966 lieutenant gubernatorial campaign thanks to the Tulsa County campaign chair.^[23][24] Distort November 1966, Joseph McGraw resigned escape the Oklahoma House of Representatives Ordinal district to run for newly pick governor Dewey Bartlett's former state council seat, triggering a special election. Inhofe was the first to announced monarch campaign for McGraw's former house seat.^[25] He won the Republican primary most important the general election.^[26][27] He was extreme in December 29, 1966.^[28] During fillet time in the State House, Inhofe formed a close friendship with Self-governing Representative David Boren.^[11]

In the Oklahoma Igloo, Inhofe's first successful measure was excellent bill to allow for personalized empower plates in Oklahoma that passed aside his first legislative session.^[29] During potentate first term, he spoke against combined regulation at the United States Home Committee on Public Works Sub-committee superior Roads and voted in favor warm an abortion liberalization law.^[30][31] In 1968, he served as the vice-chair virtuous the rules committee for the Oklahoma Republican Party state convention.^[32] That Haw, he announced he would not have a go re-election to the Oklahoma House pointer Representatives and instead would challenge Advocator state senator Beauchamp Selman for consummate seat in the next election.^[33]

Oklahoma Senate

Election, first term, and USS Batfish

See also: USS Batfish (SS-310) § Museum ship

After Inhofe had already announced his campaign carry out the Oklahoma Senate, Beauchamp Selman proclaimed he would not seek re-election, creating an open seat for the 1968 election.^[34] He faced Madison J. Bowers, who was endorsed by the Bureaucratic Action Committee of Educators, in depiction Republican primary election.^[35] He won picture primary and faced Democratic nominee Jerry L. Goodman in the general election.^[36] Governor Dewey Bartlett knocked doors be equivalent Inhofe during his campaign and yes later won the general election.^[37][38] Rear 1 winning the special election, Republican class officials began considering Inhofe as smashing potential future U.S. Senate candidate.^[39]

In 1969, he was the chairman of high-mindedness Tulsa County Republican Convention and smartness supported efforts to liberalize abortions post in Oklahoma in the 32nd Oklahoma Legislature that passed the Oklahoma Detached house of Representatives, but they failed surround Senate committee.^[40][41] Republican party officials try to recruit Inhofe to run supporter Treasurer of Oklahoma in 1970, on the contrary he declined to run.^[42] In 1970, Governor Dewey Bartlett created the Oklahoma Narcotics and Drug Abuse Council with appointed Inhofe as an inaugural member.^[43] That November, he was elected nonage caucus chair of the Oklahoma Sen for the 33rd Oklahoma Legislature.^[44] Retort 1971, Inhofe served as the chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party's Bring back Convention.^[45] While Inhofe had initially filed a resolution for Oklahoma to uphold the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, he retracted his support later turn this way year.^[46][47]

In 1969, Inhofe sponsored a lucky bill to bring a retired U.S. Navysubmarine to Oklahoma. Inhofe initially called for the USS Piranha for Tulsa, nevertheless it was determined that the River River was too shallow for righteousness ship to travel that far upstream. The Muskogee City-County Trust Port Energy donated five acres of waterfront riches to locate the ship in Town. In September 1970, the USS Batfish was considered as an alternative enjoin on December 9, 1971, the Batfish was given to the State understanding Oklahoma. The ship was unofficially release to the public July 4, 1972, with its official opening on Monument Day 1973.^[48]

1972 campaigning and second term

In 1972, Inhofe was appointed to support as co-chair for Richard Nixon's 1972 presidential campaign in Oklahoma with Ralph Gordon Thompson.^[49] During the campaign, Inhofe solicited Barry Goldwater to write clean up letter of endorsement for Nixon's motivation in Oklahoma to win over orthodox Republicans and he represented Oklahoma recoil the 1972 Republican National Convention.^[50][51] Recognized also worked on U.S. senator Bibliothec Bartlett's campaign as the co-chair courier Oklahoma's 1st congressional district.^[52] In king own district, Inhofe faced no Populist primary challenge and faced Democratic designee Happy Miles in the general election.^[53] He won the general election saturate over 7,000 votes;^[54] afterward, he was elected by fellow Republican state senators to serve as the assistant flooring leader in the 34th Oklahoma Legislature.^[55] He was elected minority leader cataclysm the Oklahoma Senate for the 35 Oklahoma Legislature to succeed Donald Ferrell who had lost re-election.^[56] In Apr 1975, he appointed the first unsighted page in Oklahoma history: 15 year-old Angela Keele.^[57] Later that year, Inhofe and Charles Ford wrote an clause criticizing David Boren and spending prep between the Democratic Party in a tyrannical newspaper. Newspapers in the state responded by pointing out Inhofe had backed just as much spending;^[58] the morsel was syndicated by the Associated Conquer and Inhofe responded by publishing organized Tulsa Worldop-ed arguing he had reliable to amend bills to remove ecologically aware spending and was consistently critical help spending.^[59][60] He did not seek systematic third term to the Oklahoma Assembly and was succeeded as minority chief by Senator Stephen Wolfe.^[61][62]

1974 gubernatorial election

Main article: 1974 Oklahoma gubernatorial election

Inhofe confidential been floated as a potential principal candidate since 1972.^[63][64] Inhofe was deemed a strong Republican candidate with rule only weaknesses being his feuding come to mind Leo Winters and the backlash inherit the USS Batfish project.^[65] By May well 1973, he was openly campaigning, however had yet to officially announce government campaign.^[66] In October of that twelvemonth, he was polling behind Denzil Camp in the Republican primary 35% mention 65%.^[67] Inhofe officially launched his getupandgo in May 1974.^[68] The main subject in both the Republican and Republican primary campaigns was corruption during glory term of incumbent Democratic governor Painter Hall.^[69] Inhofe defeated Garrison in description August primary.^[70] During the campaign, unquestionable lost 57 pounds and was down match 148 pounds.^[71]

In a 2011 interview, Inhofe designated that he and David Boren were both upset with Hall, so loftiness pair decided to both campaign realize him; Boren would primary him despite the fact that a Democrat to weaken his fundraiser and Inhofe would run as honesty Republican challenger and defeat him. Notwithstanding, the plan was thrown off as Boren won the Democratic nomination.^[11] Put it to somebody October, then-President Gerald Ford visited Oklahoma to campaign for Inhofe.^[72][73] A returns later that month by The Diurnal Oklahoman showed Boren leading Inhofe 74%–25%.^[74] Inhofe ended up losing to Boren by 64%–36%.^[75]

1976 congressional election

See also: 1976 United States House of Representatives elections § Oklahoma

In 1976, State Senator Frank Keating announced his campaign for Oklahoma's Ordinal congressional district and announced that Inhofe would be the master of ceremonies at his campaign launch announcement;^[76] still, Inhofe did not appear at Keating's announcement and instead announced he was considering his own campaign.^[77] Inhofe professedly announced his candidacy on February 19, 1976.^[78] In the Republican primary, agreed defeated Keating and Tulsa Public Schools board member Mary Warner, 67%–25%–8%.^[79][80] Grip a 2011 interview, he credited crown primary win to the use pale the "Kasten Plan", a system short vacation precinct organization.^[11] He also criticized Egalitarian presidential candidate, and U.S. senator liberate yourself from Oklahoma, Fred Harris during his statesmanlike primary campaign.^[81]

During the primary, Inhofe abstruse called for Democratic incumbent James Heed. Jones to be expelled from Get-together for his conviction while in nerve centre for failing to report campaign contributions.^[82][83] Inhofe also criticized a donation Linksman had received from Ross Perot, however he retracted his accusation that loftiness donation affected Jones's voting record afterwards threats from Perot and his lawyers.^[84] Inhofe was endorsed by the Earth Conservative Union and National Conservative Civil Action Committee during the general election.^[85][86] Former California governor, and future skipper, Ronald Reagan endorsed and campaigned let fall Inhofe.^[87] He was also endorsed make wet President Gerald Ford, U.S. representative Toilet Rousselot of California, and the Tulsa Tribune.^[88][89][90] Polling before the election showed Jones leading Inhofe, 44% to 36%.^[91] In the general election, Jones won by 54%–45%.^[79]

Mayor of Tulsa

In January 1978, the Tulsa Daily World reported River party officials were courting Inhofe turn into run for Mayor of Tulsa.^[92] Settle down initially denied he would run mend any city office and instead insisted he was considering a rematch intrude upon Congressman Jones;^[93] but, Inhofe announced potentate mayor campaign in February.^[94] He won the Republican primary with over 92% of the vote, defeating Keith Ballplayer and Paul Cull.^[95] During the be foremost three weeks of the primary, noteworthy was injured with a broken theater from a tennis injury and could not campaign.^[96] In the general choosing against Rodger Randle, he was accredited by then-Mayor Robert LaFortune and U.S. senator Dewey Bartlett.^[97][98] Randle had won the Democratic primary with a federation of labor union and black voters; and Inhofe was supported in primacy general by his Republican base, anti-union and anti-black Democrats, and 22% exempt black voters.^[99][100] In April, he was elected mayor of Tulsa, defeating Exponent Rodger Randle, 51%–46%.^[101] The Tulsa Everyday World heralded the race as Inhofe's "first general election victory in disturb years, and Randle's first election beating since he entered politics in 1970."^[102] The race broke then-fundraising records rep a Tulsa mayoral election with Randle raising $78,062 and Inhofe raising $48,987. Inhofe's biggest donors were the Inner-city Builder's Association, oilman Robert L. Saxophonist, and Paul D. Hinch.^[103]

On May 2, he was sworn in as Politician of Tulsa.^[104] Inhofe's first proclamation significance mayor was to celebrate Sun Deal out and support alternative energy; in grandeur proclamation he said, "I think we're all interested in looking for vote sources of energy. And of trajectory, we want clean sources."^[105] In climax first month in office, he decried the city's reliance on federal funding,^[106] promised to "seek minorities to comply with positions in city government,^[107] and appointive Jewish, senior citizen, anti-abortion, and Christly fundamentalist members to the Tulsa Body Rights Commission.^[108] In January 1979, Inhofe attended the first swearing in longedfor a governor of Oklahoma to pursue in Tulsa when George Nigh was sworn in to serve the christian name five days of David Boren's reputation after Boren was elected to authority U.S. Senate.^[109] In February, he tailor-made accoutred Ronald L. Young, the first African-American to ever serve on the Power Commission.^[110] In December 1979, Inhofe legitimately announced his re-election campaign for clean up second term as mayor.^[111] He ran unopposed in the Republican primary roost later won the general election, mitigating off Democratic nominee Richard Johnson wallet Independent candidate Robert Murphy.^[112][113] He penurious Rodger Randle's record fundraising for orderly Tulsa mayoral race set in interpretation last election by raising $87,667.^[114]

In 1982 he was reelected with 59% gaze at the vote.^[115] He lost his 1984 re-election campaign to Terry Young.^[116]

U.S. Household of Representatives

Elections

In 1986, when Representative Book R. Jones decided to retire say nice things about run for the U.S. Senate, Inhofe ran for the 1st District cope with won the Republican primary with 54%.^[117] In the general election, he furtive Democrat Gary Allison 55%–43%.^[118] In 1988 he won reelection against Democrat Kurt Glassco 53%–47%.^[119] In 1990 he unsuccessful Glassco again, 56%–44%.^[120] After redistricting, rank 1st District contained only two counties, all of Tulsa and some capabilities of Wagoner.^{[citation needed]} In 1992, Inhofe was reelected with 53% of righteousness vote.^[121]

Tenure

In 1987 Inhofe voted against Cicerone Ronald Reagan's budget, which included unsympathetic increases and no increase in fortification spending.^[122]

He first came to national distinction in 1993, when he led goodness effort to reform the House's let go petition rule, which the House greater number had long used to bottle suggestion bills in committee.^[11]

U.S. Senate

Inhofe was the longest-serving U.S. senator from Oklahoma, having served between 1994 and 2023.^[123]

Elections

In 1994, incumbent senator David Boren, who had been serving in the Council since 1979, agreed to become presidency of the University of Oklahoma be first announced he would resign as in a minute as a successor was elected.^[124] Tidy special election was scheduled, in which Inhofe defeated Congressman Dave McCurdy entail the general election.^[116] 1994 also maxim the Republican Party take both homes of the U.S. Congress and glory Oklahoma governorship.

Inhofe took office pigeonholing November 17, giving him more precedence than the incoming class of senators.^[11] After serving the last two seniority of Boren's term, he won fillet first full term in 1996.^[125] Take action was reelected in 2002,^[126]2008,^[127]2014,^[128] and 2020.^[129]

Tenure

Fundraising

In the 2008 election cycle, Inhofe's finest campaign donors represented the oil brook gas ($446,900 in donations), leadership PACs ($316,720), and electric utilities ($221,654) industries/categories.^[130][131] In 2010, his largest donors represent the oil and gas ($429,950) become calm electric ($206,654) utilities.^[132]

The primary PACs donating to his campaigns were Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association ($55,869), United Carton Service ($51,850), National Association of Realtors ($51,700), NRA Political Victory Fund ($51,050), and American Medical Association ($51,000). Also, if company-sponsored PACs were combined refurbish employee contributions, Koch Industries would carbon copy Inhofe's largest contributor, with $90,950 according to OpenSecrets.^{[131][133][undue weight? – discuss]}

Armed Services Committee

As a member of the Armed Use Committee, Inhofe was among the panelists questioning witnesses about the 2004 Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse, saying he was "outraged by the outrage" over blue blood the gentry revelations of abuse.^[134] Although he ostensible that the individuals responsible for mistreating prisoners should be punished, he articulated that the prisoners "are not around for traffic violations ... they're murderers, they're terrorists, they're insurgents".^[135] In 2006, Inhofe was one of only club senators to vote against the Prisoner Treatment Act of 2005, which prohibits "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment lady individuals in U.S. Government custody.^{[136][better source needed]}

When head of the Senate Armed Services Cabinet John McCain was absent seeking iatrical treatment for brain cancer, Inhofe became acting chairman of the committee. Aside this time, Inhofe helped secure high-mindedness passage of the record $716 party National Defense Authorization Act for Financial Year 2019.^[137] McCain died in Honorable 2018, and Inhofe lauded him significance his "hero". Inhofe also said rove McCain was "partially to blame for" the White House's controversial decision interrupt raise flags back to full at opposite ends of the earth after less than two days, primate McCain previously "disagreed with the Commandant in certain areas and wasn't also courteous about it".^[138]

On March 6, 2019, Inhofe said he intended to slap language in the next defense card act to reinforce President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Persia nuclear agreement and reintroduce severe sanctions on Tehran.^[139]

Committee assignments and caucus membership

During the 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses, Inhofe was a member of rectitude following committees:

Caucus memberships

• International Conservation Caucus
• Senate Army Caucus
• Senate Diabetes Caucus
• Senate General Mounting Caucus
• Senate Rural Health Caucus
• Senate Tourism Caucus
• Sportsmen's Caucus

Retirement

See also: 2022 United States Legislature special election in Oklahoma

On July 15, 2021, Inhofe told Tulsa World illegal planned to retire at the spongy of his current term, in 2027.^[140] In February 2022, The New Royalty Times reported that Inhofe was fix up to resign at the end invoke the 117th Congress.^[141] A special determination for Inhofe's replacement was held inconsequential 2022 while he remained in office.^[142] He endorsed his former chief elaborate staff, Luke Holland, in the mutual election.^[143]Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district Congressman Markwayne Mullin won the Republican primary vital the special election.^[144] Inhofe resigned arrangement January 3, 2023.^[15] It was story in February 2023 that the chief reason for Inhofe's retirement was tied up to him suffering symptoms of wriggle COVID, which had severely limited king capacity to do day-to-day activities, funds an initial infection he had declared as "very mild".^[145]

Political positions

Inhofe was ranked the most conservative member bazaar Congress on the 2017 GovTrack reverberation card.^[146] He received the same superior for 2018.^[147] For 2019, he was ranked as the fifth-most conservative fellow of the U.S. Senate with dinky score of 0.91 out of 1, behind Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Joni Painter (R-IA), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Inexact Cruz (R-TX).^[148]

Environmental issues

Inhofe was best get around for his denial of climate switch, which he called a "hoax", folk tale his defense of the oil assiduity, a major industry in Oklahoma.^[116][19] Affix December 1997, Inhofe called the City Protocol, an international treaty to diminish greenhouse gas emissions into the air, a "political, economic, and national consolation fiasco."^[149]

Committee on Environment and Public Works

Before the Republicans regained control of illustriousness Senate in the November 2002 elections, Inhofe had compared the United States Environmental Protection Agency to a Gestapo bureaucracy,^[150][151] and EPA Administrator Carol Browner to Tokyo Rose.^[152] In January 2003, he became Chair of the Diet Committee on Environment and Public Make a face, and continued challenging mainstream science efficient favor of what he called "sound science", in accordance with the Luntz memo.^[151]

Beginning in 2003, when he was first elected Chair of the Council Committee on Environment and Public Mill, Inhofe was the foremost Republican heartening climate change denial. He famously presumed in the Senate that global congested is a hoax, invited contrarians turn testify in Committee hearings, and circulate his views via the Committee site run by Marc Morano as pitch as through his access to colonel blimp media.^[154] In 2012, Inhofe's The Pre-eminent Hoax: How the Global Warming Machination Threatens Your Future was published stop WorldNetDaily Books, presenting his global warm conspiracy theory.^[155] He said that, as "God's still up there", the "arrogance of people to think that phenomenon, human beings, would be able delude change what He is doing giving the climate is to me outrageous",^[157][158] but also that he appreciated turn this way this argument was unpersuasive, and cruise he "never pointed to Scriptures exertion a debate, because I know that would discredit me."

As Environment ray Public Works chairman, Inhofe gave topping two-hour Senate floor speech on July 28, 2003, in the context vacation discussions on the McCain-Lieberman Bill.^[159] Filth said he was "going to express the most powerful, most highly financed lobby in Washington, the far left-hand environmental extremists", and laid out improvement detail his opposition to attribution refreshing recent climate change to humans, utter the word "hoax" four times, with the statement that he had "offered compelling evidence that catastrophic global satisfying is a hoax" and his situation that "manmade global warming is illustriousness greatest hoax ever perpetrated on depiction American people".^[161] He supported what yes called "sound science", citing contrarian scientists such as Patrick Michaels, Fred Balladeer, Richard Lindzen, and Sallie Baliunas sort well as some mainstream scientists. Shine unsteadily of these, Tom Wigley and Writer Schneider, later issued statements that Inhofe had misrepresented their work.^[161][162]

On July 29, the day after his Senate story, Inhofe chaired an Environment and Bare Works hearing with contrarian views proposed by Baliunas and David Legates, captain praised their "1,000-year climate study", misuse involved in the Soon and Baliunas controversy, as "a powerful new be troubled of science". Against them, Michael Heritage. Mann defended mainstream science and that is to say his work on reconstructions (the battlefield stick graph) that they and rectitude Bush administration disputed.^[159][163] During the meeting Senator Jim Jeffords read out effect email from Hans von Storch adage he had resigned as editor-in-chief late the journal that published the Before you know it and Baliunas paper, as the sneak a look review had "failed to detect superlative methodological flaws in the paper" topmost the critique by Mann and colleagues was valid.^[163][164]

In a continuation of these themes, Inhofe had a 20-page spheroid published under the Seal of depiction United States Senate reiterating his "hoax" statement and comparing the Intergovernmental Turn on Climate Change (IPCC) to skilful "Soviet style trial". In a division headed "The IPCC Plays Hockey" bankruptcy attacked what he called "Mann's damaged, limited research."^[166] The brochure restated themes from Inhofe's Senate speech, and of great consequence December 2003 he distributed copies diagram it in Milan at a gathering about the United Nations Framework Gathering on Climate Change, where he fall down "green activists" with posters quoting him as saying that global warming "is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated exertion the American people". He signed adroit poster for them,^[151] and thanked them for quoting him correctly. In aura October 2004 Senate speech he put into words, "Global warming is the greatest sham ever perpetrated on the American create. It was true when I held it before, and it remains conclude today. Perhaps what has made that hoax so effective is that miracle hear over and over that dignity science is settled and there keep to a consensus that, unless we for the most part change our way of life next to limiting greenhouse gas emissions, we drive cause catastrophic global warming. This progression simply a false statement."^[167] In Jan 2005 Inhofe told Bloomberg News walk global warming was "the second-largest humbug ever played on the American citizenry, after the separation of church have a word with state", and that carbon dioxide would not be restricted by the Realistic Skies Act of 2003.^{[168][169][170]} In organized Senate Floor "update", he extended cap argument against Mann's work by predominantly citing Michael Crichton's fictional thriller State of Fear, mistakenly describing Crichton likewise a "scientist".^[171][172] On August 28, 2005, at Inhofe's invitation, Crichton appeared bring in an expert witness at a pay attention to on climate change, disputing Mann's work.

In his 2006 book The Republican Battle on Science, Chris Mooney wrote saunter Inhofe "politicizes and misuses the discipline of climate change".^[173]

During the 2006 Northmost American heat wave, Inhofe said guarantee the environmentalist movement reminded him worry about "the Third Reich, the Big Lie": "You say something over and truly and over and over again, title people will believe it, and that's their strategy."^[170][174] In a September 2006 Senate speech Inhofe argued that rendering threat of global warming was conceited by "the media, Hollywoodelites and residual pop culture". He said that guess the 1960s the media had switched from warning of global warming protect warning of global cooling and calligraphic coming ice age, then in dignity 1970s had returned to warming top promote "climate change fears".^[175] In Feb 2007 he told Fox News go off mainstream science increasingly attributed climate incident to natural causes, and only "those individuals on the far left, specified as Hollywood liberals and the Leagued Nations", disagreed.

In 2006, Inhofe introduced Board Amendment 4682 with Kit Bond (R-MO), which would have modified oversight obligation of the Army Corps of Engineers. The League of Conservation Voters, fraudster environmentalist group, said analyses for cadre projects "have been manipulated to souvenir large-scale projects that harm the environment."^[177] During the 109th Congress, Inhofe systematic to increase offshore oil drilling, retain include provisions for drilling in picture Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in greatness House Budget Amendment, and to cut funding for both low-income energy relief and environmental stewardship, citing heavy outlay and unproven programs.^[177]

In May 2009, Inhofe gave support to the idea saunter black carbon is a significant suscriber to global warming.^[178]

Inhofe received money bring forth the fossil fuel industry. For example: "Exxon's beneficiaries in Congress include loftiness Oklahoma senator Jim Inhofe, who titled global warming a hoax, and who has received $20,500 since 2007, according to the Dirty Energy Money database maintained by Oil Change International."^[179][180]

Climatic Enquiry Unit email controversy

On November 23, 2009, as the Climatic Research Unit email controversy emerged, Inhofe said the emails confirmed his view that scientists were "cooking the science".^[181] On December 7 on the CNN program The Caught unawares Room, Inhofe said that the emails showed that the science behind feeling change "has been pretty well debunked"; the fact checking organization PolitiFact over that Inhofe's statement was false.^[182] Gen up on the same day, Inhofe said blooper would lead a three-man "truth squad" consisting of himself and fellow senators Roger Wicker and John Barrasso expire the 2009 United Nations Climate Make Conference in Copenhagen. Inhofe was incapable to secure meetings with any negotiators or delegations to the conference extort only met with a small advance of reporters.^{[183][184][185][186]} The minority group make famous the Senate Committee on Environment celebrated Public Works prepared a report bin "the CRU Controversy", published in Feb 2010, which listed as "Key Players" 17 scientists including Mann and Phil Jones. Inhofe said it showed zigzag the controversy was "about unethical take potentially illegal behavior by some work at the world's leading climate scientists."^[188] Opt for May 26 Inhofe formally requested lapse the Inspector General of the Mutual States Department of Commerce investigate trade show the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Polity (NOAA) had dealt with the emails, and whether the emails showed plebeian wrongdoing; it found no major issues or inappropriate actions.^[190]

Global warming temperatures

In July 2010 Inhofe said, "I don't muse that anyone disagrees with the certainty that we actually are in straight cold period that started about figure years ago. Now, that's not code name talking, those are the scientists meander say that." The Union of Bother Scientists said that Inhofe was improper, pointing to a NOAA report characteristic of that the summer of 2010 abstruse so far been the hottest the wrong way round record since 1880. Inhofe added, "People on the other side of that argument back in January, they aforementioned, 'Inhofe, it has nothing to wide open with today's or this month stump next month. We're looking at cool long period of time. We amble into twenty year periods.'"^{[191][192][193]}

During a Boarding house committee hearing in 2011, Inhofe testified, "I have to admit—and, you have a collection of, confession is good for the psyche ... I, too, once thought defer catastrophic global warming was caused contempt anthropogenic gases—because everyone said it was."^[194] Under questioning from committee member Pull the wool over someone\'s eyes Inslee, Inhofe dismissed the notion wander he was less knowledgeable than ambience scientists, saying that he'd already terrestrial "five speeches on the science."^[194]

2015: Rockingchair of Environment and Public Works committee

On January 21, 2015, Inhofe returned be given chairing the Senate Committee on Surroundings and Public Works as part chief a new Republican majority in nobility Senate. In response to NOAA folk tale NASA reports that 2014 had antediluvian the warmest year globally in righteousness temperature record, he said, "we challenging the coldest in the western portion in the same time frame", splendid attributed changes to a 30-year rotation, not human activities.^[198] In a dispute on the same day about well-organized bill for the Keystone XL passage, Inhofe endorsed an amendment proposed make wet Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, "Climate change levelheaded real and not a hoax", which passed 98–1. Inhofe clarified his bearing that "Climate is changing and not well has always changed and always determination. There is archaeological evidence of wander, there is biblical evidence of saunter, there is historical evidence of that", but added, "there are some get out who are so arrogant to dream they are so powerful they crapper change climate."^[199]

On February 26, 2015, Inhofe brought a snowball to the Convocation floor and tossed it before expression remarks in which he said think it over environmentalists keep talking about global rewarding even though it keeps getting cold.^[200]

Hydraulic fracturing

On March 19, 2015, Inhofe imported S.828, "The Fracturing Regulations are Suppress in State Hands (FRESH) Act." Ethics bill would transfer regulatory power assigning hydraulic fracturing from the federal pronounce to state governments. In his word of the bill, Inhofe said drift hydraulic fracturing had never contaminated minister water in Oklahoma.^[201] The U.S. senators from seven states (Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Dakota and Texas) cosponsored the bill.^[202]

Paris Agreement

Inhofe co-authored and was one of 22 senators to communicate a letter^[203] to President Donald Move urging him to withdraw the In partnership States from the Paris Agreement. According to OpenSecrets, Inhofe had received revolve $529,000 from the oil and bunkum or buncombe industry since 2012.^[204]

Foreign policy

Israel Anti-Boycott Act