Congressional hearings are frequently a matter of theater. Democrats and Republicans hand pick witnesses to bolster the case they choose to make and then try to catch the opposition's experts with a series of gotcha questions.

Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) pulled back the curtain on what promised to be another carefully orchestrated pas de deux July 23 when the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Power convened to discuss potential revisions to the renewable fuel standard.

"We could have had this hearing in January and I would have gotten the same freaking answer out of you all," Shimkus groused after listening to more than an hour of carefully prepared talking points from the ethanol and petroleum industries. He advised both groups to drop their discussion points and work with Congress to make the needed revisions to the renewable fuel standard.

"We are committed to move on a fix, and it would be helpful for you to get in line and start negotiating in good faith," Shimkus said.

Shimkus went down the dais of witnesses, including representatives of the American Petroleum Institute, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, Renewable Fuels Association, and Advanced Biofuels Council, asking each if they would commit to working with Congress on the needed fixes. The congressman went so far as to cut off API President and Chief Executive Officer Jack Gerrard at one point when Shimkus felt the petroleum industry representative couldn't give him a straight answer to his question about cooperating.

Shimkus also doused hopes that Congress would repeal the renewable fuel standard entirely, something the petroleum industry has been pushing for.

"You don't have enough [votes] for repeal," Shimkus said. "You do have enough for some reforms. So you better get in the room and get it done."