WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer, D-California, had some choice words Wednesday for Sen. James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, when he tried to frame the rules of former Vice President Al Gore's testimony about the dangers of global warming before the committee.

Inhofe, the former chairman of the panel and a skeptic of global warming, said Gore should respond to one of his questions in writing because it would likely be a "very long response, I'm afraid." The question referenced critics of Gore who claim he is being to alarmist on the issue of global warming.(Related video: Gore urges action on global warming)

Boxer quickly interrupted Inhofe, saying she would freeze the time to allow Gore to respond to his question. When the Oklahoma senator said Gore could have as much time as he wanted at the end of the hearing to answer the question, Boxer took the opportunity to remind Inhofe that she now controls the committee.

"That isn't the rule," Boxer said. "You're not making the rules - you used to when you did this. You don't do this any more."(Watch video: Boxer boxes out Inhofe)

"Elections have consequences," she added, referencing the Democratic victories in November that propelled her party into the Senate majority.