Senate on Track to Confirm Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator

Source: By The Associated Press • Posted: Friday, February 17, 2017

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans are poised to use their majority to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

A vote on Scott Pruitt’s nomination is set for Friday, despite a call from Democrats for a delay. A judge in Oklahoma on Thursday ordered Pruitt, the state’s attorney general, to release thousands of his emails with oil and gas executives by next week. Pruitt has refused to release the emails for more than two years.

So far, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is the lone Republican saying she will vote against Pruitt. He is closely aligned with oil and gas companies, whose executives have backed his political campaigns.

Pruitt has filed 14 federal lawsuits challenging EPA regulations. Environmental groups fear Pruitt will cut EPA’s workforce and gut enforcement efforts.

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