Democrats block EPA nominee vote in Environment Committee
Senate Democrats Wednesday blocked the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee from voting on President Bush's nomination of GOP Gov. Michael Leavitt of Utah to head the EPA by boycotting a markup.
"Unfortunately, the Democrats, in boycotting this markup, have publicly shunned committee precedent and insulted one of the most highly qualified people ever to be nominated for this job," said Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman James Inhofe, R-Okla.
Senate rules require 10 members of the 19-member committee to be present to constitute a quorum, and two of those must be members of the minority. Environment and Public Works ranking member James Jeffords, I-Vt., who appeared briefly at the markup to read a prepared statement, said the boycott had "nothing to do with the qualifications of Mr. Leavitt" and was a protest against the Bush administration.
"This administration is refusing to give us the answers-life and death answers," he said. Jeffords added that he would vote for Leavitt, but not until Leavitt responded to the 400 questions Democrats have submitted.
Inhofe accused Jeffords of taking the nomination personally. Jeffords responded that it was not personal and added that Leavitt is a longtime friend of his. "If that is how you treat your friends," asked Inhofe, "how do you treat your enemies?"
Even if the nomination clears the committee, it faces obstacles on the Senate floor. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who has been critical of EPA efforts to clean up the World Trade Center site in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, last week reiterated her intention to block the Leavitt nomination, and other Democrats also have said they would keep a hold on the nomination.
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said Wednesday's boycott was a continuation of Democrats' attacks on Bush administration nominees, and predicted that the Leavitt nomination would become a presidential campaign issue. "This fight will go through the election," he said.