Some longtime cable rate critics will get another chance to publicly criticize cable rates, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who formerly chaired the Senate Commerce Committee's Consumer Protection subcommittee, has been hammering the cable industry on rates and customer service for years, including trying to amend STELAR, the satellite reauthorization bill, to include a bunch of provisions to put cable's feet to the fire.

The Journal reports that she will be among Senators querying cable and satellite execs at a hearing in the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations this month.

McCaskill is the ranking member of the subcommittee, while another veteran cable rate critic, Republican John McCain (R-Ariz.) is also on the subcommittee.  McCain could be in a tough re-election battle, according to various reports, so grilling execs over cable bills could play well with the folks at home.