"WASHINGTON — Rick Perry, the former Texas governor and President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee as energy secretary, said in his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday that he regretted having recommended the abolition of the Energy Department in the past.

He addressed his awkward history on the issue up front, telling the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that after “being briefed on so many of the vital functions of the Department of Energy,” he no longer believed, as he said while running for president in 2011, that it should be eliminated.

Mr. Perry also offered a full-throated reversal of his views on the science of human-caused climate change, which he called a “contrived, phony mess” in a 2010 book."

Coral Davenport reports for the New York Times January 19, 2017. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Scientists Concerned For Future Of National Labs As Rick Perry Seeks Top Energy Post" (NPR) [3]

"DOE: Perry Vows To Defend Climate Research, Scientists" (Greenwire) [4]

"Dems Blast Trump Plans For Deep Spending Cuts" (The Hill) [5]

"What We Learned From Rick Perry's Confirmation Hearing" (The Hill) [6]