The top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee chided Democrats on Wednesday for keeping Republicans in the dark when it comes to their climate change legislative agenda.

“We have not been given the details of where these hearings are going,” said Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, at the first in a series of climate hearings in the committee. “We would like to know that in the future.”

Bishop questioned whether the climate change hearings scheduled for this month are designed for lawmakers to legislate, or to get favorable press coverage from reporters to “write cute stories.”

He questioned whether addressing global warming was part of the jurisdiction of the committee, suggesting that the multi-billion dollar maintenance backlog affect national parks should be the priority.

Bishop said he has ideas on how to manage forests in a way that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which is within the jurisdiction of the committee, but doesn't know if those proposals would fit in with Democratic leadership's intentions.

“I do not know where this hearing is going, or the other six hearings you’ve planned, because you’ve simply not told us where the goal is,” Bishop continued.

Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the Democratic chairman of the committee, assured Bishop that when it comes to jurisdiction of the committee, “we can chew gum and walk,” and can effectively address climate change and other areas within the purview of the panel.

[Opinion: Climate change is happening. The 'Green New Deal' does nothing to stop it]