Senate Republicans on Thursday suspended committee rules to break a Democratic boycott, approving Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as the new Environmental Protection Agency administrator with no participation from the minority party.
Sen. John Barrasso, Wyoming Republican and chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said it was necessary to suspend committee rules and vote on Mr. Pruitt’s nomination because of Democratic obstruction. Democrats boycotted Thursday’s hearing, a day after also boycotting a Wednesday forum where Mr. Pruitt could have been approved.
“Elections have consequences and a new president is entitled to put people in place who will advance his agenda,” Mr. Barrasso said. “The leadership of the minority chose to do a blanket boycott … The minority wants political theater. The nation needs a new EPA administrator.”
Democrats argue Mr. Pruitt did not adequately respond to their questions about climate change and other key environmental issues, though Republicans countered that the attorney general spent more time before the committee and submitted more written answers than any recent EPA administrator.
Earlier this week, Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee also suspended regular rules of order to break a Democratic boycott and advance Steve Mnuchin, President Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary, and Rep. Tom Price, nominated to head Health and Human Services, to the full Senate.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.