Virginia Senate Panel Rejects Trump EPA Chief for Top Environmental Post
Democratic state senators in Virginia took a first step Tuesday toward blocking Andrew Wheeler, Donald Trumps controversial second head of the Environmental Protection Agency and a former coal lobbyist, from becoming the states top environmental official.
A Senate committee that considers gubernatorial nominees voted 9-6 along party lines to remove Wheelers name from a resolution approving Gov. Glenn Youngkins (R) Cabinet appointments.
But, as The Virginian-Pilot reported, it may not be the end of the line for Wheelers nomination. His name could ultimately be added back to the resolution on the Senate floor. All it would take is a single Democrat in the narrowly divided state Senate voting with Republicans.
Tuesdays vote adds to what has proved to be a contentious confirmation process, in which scores of current and former EPA employees urged Virginia lawmakers to vote against Wheeler, citing his record of gutting environmental rules while at the helm of the federal agency.
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https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/02/trump-epa-head-youngkin-pick-reject-virginia-senate/