POLITICS AND THE EPA

GOP Tactics Delay Confirmation of EPA Administrator

Angela Garrone, Esq., May 13, 2013 (CleanEnergy.Org)

“…[M]oments before a scheduled vote on the confirmation of Gina McCarthy to become Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Republican members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee staged a boycott…[reportedly because] McCarthy had not sufficiently responded to five important ‘transparency requests.’ McCarthy had, however, answered 1,079 oral and written questions in earlier confirmation hearings…Despite both McCarthy’s exceptional background as Assistant EPA Administrator from 2009-present and as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection from 2004-2009, Republicans have decided to use any means necessary to try to roadblock McCarthy’s appointment…[but] it seems unlikely that Republicans will do more than delay McCarthy’s appointment…

“Senate Democrats were outraged at the boycott…Senator Barbara Boxer, chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee…[said it] shows how obstructionist they are…McCarthy has a history of crafting clean air regulations that not only protect the public health but also include significant industry input – ensuring that emissions standards are low enough to protect health but reasonable enough so that industry is able to comply.”

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“Senator Boxer…promised to schedule a second vote on McCarthy’s nomination…[and] has considered changing committee rules if it is the only way to push McCarthy’s nomination through. Changing committee rules, however, could give the GOP a reason to filibuster McCarthy’s nomination on the Senate floor.

“Along with Ms. McCarthy’s confirmation vote, Republicans also stalled the Senate vote…[on] Energy Secretary nominee Ernest Moniz…over [South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsay] Graham’s concerns about a federal program in his state which turns weapons-grade plutonium into fuel. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, however, approved the nomination of Dr. Moniz…The only senator voting against Dr. Moniz’s in committee was another Republican South Carolina Senator, Tim Scott…Graham has since lifted his procedural block on the Senate vote…”

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