Unfortunately, it will take more than just change at the top for the EPA to once again serve the critical mission it is charged with by Congress-and that all of us in the public need. I certainly hope that the White House hears from Congress and the public that we have all had enough of Mr. He has done more than enough damage to the work of the EPA, sidelining science at the expense of Americans’ health and safety. Sometimes it is hard to remember that each of these inappropriate actions by the Administrator is connected to an action that undermines public health and safety protections, as described by my colleague Josh Goldman.Īnd there is really no question that it is time for Pruitt to leave the agency that he leads. It was hard to keep up this week with Pruitt press. According to the EPW website, the committee is meeting Thursday morning, where they may choose to suspend the rules if Democrats continue their boycott.Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt seems to have a penchant for scandalous behavior, from misuse of public funds to special deals with corporate lobbyists. Hurley served as the secretary of war for President Herbert Hoover in the 1930s.īut for now, Pruitt's historic nomination is still up in the air. If he's confirmed, Pruitt would be the first Oklahoman since Gen. His confirmation process has also been the longest in nearly two decades. According to the committee, he answered more than 1,200 questions, both written and in person, surpassing any EPA nominee in history. They also said they thought his answers at the hearing lacked substance. In his closing remarks during Pruitt’s hearing Wednesday, however, Barrasso said, “I want to just close with stating that not having a vote on this nominee today, not organizing this important committee, is a shame.”Įarlier this week, Democrats on the committee said they had worries over Pruitt's failure to respond to document requests and uncertainty over potential conflicts of interests. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, boycotted Obama’s EPA pick, Gina McCarthy. Jim Inhofe, and the current chairman Sen. In 2013, both the former chairman of the committee, Sen. I think we'll follow the rules but we will eventually approve Mr. I think we have to act the like the adults in the room. “I think we have to be the adults in the room. “This is simply a senatorial temper tantrum, and as all the parents know temper tantrums waste a lot of energy, but they don't accomplish anything,” said Sen. “There comes a point when vetting is turned into obstruction and that is what we're witnessing today,” Sen. An ironic change in rhetoric after the Republican-controlled Senate under former President Barack Obama pushed Senate obstruction to unprecedented levels and lowered productivity to its lowest rate in decades, according to the Pew Research Center. Instead, Republicans chastised the Democrats for "obstructing" Senate procedure. Other committees, such as the Senate finance committee, voted to suspend the quorum rules, although the environment and public works (EPW) committee members declined to follow their colleagues.
#Pruitt public safety forcing his drivers full#
Under Senate rules, at least two members from each party must be present for a full quorum in order to vote. Republican members of the Senate committee in charge of approving Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for a full chamber confirmation were forced to delay their scheduled vote after Democrats boycotted Wednesday’s hearing.