Carper's Hold on EPA Nominee Irks Bush

[cyberpj]

Carper's maneuver irks Bush

Feeling clean-air plan is being ignored, senator blocks EPA nominee
By JENNIFER LOVEN / Associated Press
04/22/2005

WASHINGTON -- President Bush expressed frustration Thursday that his nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency is being blocked by Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, who objects to an administration clean-air policy.

Carper has said he believes Stephen Johnson, Bush's choice to lead the EPA, is well qualified. He said he is holding up the nomination "with much regret" because the EPA and the White House had ignored his request for an analysis of the economic, health and environmental impact of his alternative to Bush's clean-air plan.

Carper was at the White House on Thursday as Bush presented Environmental Youth Awards. The president opened the event by urging the Senate to move on the nomination. "I put this good man's nomination in front of the United States Senate for a reason - because he's plenty capable of doing the job," Bush said.

Under Senate rules, a single senator can hold up a nominee's confirmation vote.

Since April 2003, Carper has sent at least four letters to the EPA seeking data to help him and his colleagues compare a Bush proposal on air pollution with two competing plans that also address carbon dioxide, the main "greenhouse" gas blamed for global warming.


http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2005/04/22carpersmaneuver.html

[dave123williams]

1. God forbid his majesty should be 'irked'...