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News & Analysis | REG•WATCH Blog | Press Room
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Boxer Threatens to Put Hold on EPA IG Nominee
Susan Dudley isn't the only controversial nominee that might be snuck through during the lame duck session. According to CongressDaily, future chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), is threatening to put a hold on the nomination for the Environmental Protection Agency's nominee for Inspector General. The IG is responsible for sussing out waste, fraud and abuse in the agency.
Unfortunately, Bush's pick, Alex Beehler, has more experience in industry than oversight. As the Defense Department's assistant deputy undersecretary for environment, safety and occupational health, Beehler sought to exempt the military from environmental regulation. Beehler also worked for Koch Industries, distributing money to anti-regulatory groups, including Susan Dudley's own Mercatus Center.
All ten Republicans on the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee have said they will support the nomination, guaranteeing the nomination would pass a committee vote. Boxer has threatened to put a hold on the nomination if it passes committee.
Former EPA IG Nikki Tinsley resigned in January. Tinsley's tenacious investigations often put her at odds with the White House. Her reports on EPA's failure to regulate smog and mercury emissions were particularly damning. Check out this WaPo article for more on Tinsley.
Read Beehler's testimony from his September hearing.
Posted by Genevieve Smith
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