Another reminder that thug Chicago Machine politics aren’t just all the rage at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. According to The Hill, Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) is demanding a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission investigation into one of the witnesses who testified against Markey’s cap-and-trade legislation.

Energy panel Republicans are levying accusations of witness intimidation against Democratic Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), one of the key authors of the contentious House climate change bill.

Republicans have seized on a letter – a copy of which was obtained by The Hill – that Markey penned to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff asking FERC to investigate the actions of a major energy company on the same day that the company’s CEO was set to testify before the energy panel on the dangers of a carbon cap and trade system…

GOP sources confirmed that Republicans reacted furiously when they saw that the letter was sent the very same day that MidAmerican’s CEO, David L. Sokol, was testifying as a Republican witness before Markey’s subcommittee.

If this doesn’t make its way into a mid-term election ad for Republicans, then they don’t deserve to win. This is intimidation of a Congressional witness, plain and simple. Markey didn’t like that Sokol was testifying against his cap-and-trade legislation, so he used his political power to demand a federal investigation into Sokol’s business. Markey shouldn’t even be in Congress after pulling such a corrupt stunt.

Unfortunately, Congressional Democrats strong-arming those who oppose their policies isn’t limited to just Markey’s demand. According to Congressional Quarterly, lobbyists who oppose socialized health care are being intimidated by Democrats into staying quiet.

Health care lobbyists met Thursday with Senate Republicans despite what some characterized as warnings from Democratic staffers against undermining overhaul legislation.

Democratic leaders denied discouraging participation in talks as health care legislation takes shape, citing committee meetings with Republican lawmakers and sessions with industry advocates, such as one Thursday at the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

But attendees at a June 10 meeting with top Democratic aides described apparent warnings about participating in two meetings with Republicans on Thursday. One meeting included Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Jon Kyl of Arizona and John Thune of South Dakota, and the other was with GOP leadership staffers.

Those apparent warnings came from Russell W. Sullivan, the Finance Committee staff director, and Jonathan G. Selib, chief of staff to Finance Chairman Max Baucus , D-Mont., according to a Democratic lobbyist who was among those cautioned about Thursday’s Republican meetings.

The lobbyist said that he didn’t feel threatened — “not at all” — but that there was a general message that working with Republicans would be a “hostile act.” … Another participant in the June 10 meeting said he also felt discouraged from working with Republicans.

I seem to vaguely remember promises from Congressional Democrats and President Obama to change the way Washington works. Something about “change” and “transparency”. Maybe I’m just misremembering or something.