An empty chair marked the latest act of defiance by Texas' top oil and gas regulator. Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian did not appear Tuesday before the House Committee on Energy Resources, despite Chairman Drew Darby's call for him to testify.
The committee oversees the Railroad Commission, which regulates the state's oil and gas industry. Christian's absence directly challenges the legislature's authority to scrutinize the agency, escalating a standoff between the commissioner and state lawmakers.
What happens next remains unclear. The report gives no indication of why Christian stayed away or how the committee might respond to the snub.