Republicans Boycott Vote on Obama’s EPA Pick

<span> </span><span>Republicans Boycott Vote on Obama's EPA Pick  </span>

Aleteia - published on 05/10/13

Sen. Vitter leads the charge against Gina McCarthy, much to the Democrats' chagrin.

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Gridlock hits Washington again, this time in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), the top Republican in the committee, called on his fellow partisans to boycott Thursday’s vote on President Obama’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Gina McCarthy. McCarthy currently serves as the Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. USA Today reports:

WASHINGTON – Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana led a Republican boycott Thursday of a committee vote on Gina McCarthy's nomination to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a move that left the committee's chairwoman “stunned.”

Vitter said McCarthy, currently the assistant EPA administrator for air and radiation, hasn't adequately answered questions posed by Republican lawmakers on the Environment and Public Works Committee.

"These requests are all about openness and transparency and things required by present law,'' said Vitter, the committee's top Republican. "We're not asking the Obama administration to walk away from their views about carbon or anything else. We are asking for openness and transparency and we are asking that present law be followed in a full and fair and reasonable way.''