Edwards to block EPA nomination

[renie408]

>>By JOHN WAGNER, Washington Correspondent


U.S. Sen. John Edwards said Monday that he will block the nomination of Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency in order to gain leverage in a fight with the agency over clean-air rules.

The North Carolina Democrat, who is seeking his party's presidential nomination, became the third senator to announce plans to block President Bush's nominee. U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, another Democratic White House hopeful, did so previously.

Under Senate rules, a single member can hold up nominations by placing a "hold" on them.

Edwards said his decision was prompted by the EPA's failure to answers his questions about the health consequences of new rules on pollution from power plants.

In August, Edwards sent a letter, signed by 44 senators, requesting that "EPA conduct a rigorous analysis of the air pollution and public health impacts" of proposed changes in regulations under the Clean Air Act. The agency has not done so , Edwards said Monday.

"The nomination will not go forward until this administration commits to giving us the truth about how Clean Air Act rollbacks are going to affect our kids with asthma and seniors with health problems," Edwards said.

According to The Associated Press, the White House said it regrets that Leavitt's nomination is being held up, accusing Democrats of attempt to "politicize" the issue, despite Leavitt's qualifications.<<

Edwards also has a 100% rating from the Sierra Club.

http://edwards.senate.gov/issues/environment.html

[Brucey]

1. Go John!

Love to finally see some backbone among Dems.

[kwolf68]

2. Edwards is really amazing

Very few Southern Democrats are worth a damn on the environment. Cleland was one and Edwards is the other.

I have watched his career a bit concering environmental issues and he is amazingly progressive. Progressive even though he comes from a state not know for electing progressive politicians.

One of the reasons I am not big on Dean is I don't trust him on the environment. Re Edwards: I think I do trust this man on the environment.

He's still new to the scene, but he is interesting.

[goobergunch]

3. Gee, it looks like all the presidential candidates are putting holds...

on Leavitt.

[NewJerseyDem]

4. But you only need one

I thought that Hillary Clinton was the one that put the hold on Leavitt and she isn't running for president, probably. And I think Lieberman is supporting her but not placing a hold on the nomination because it doesn't matter if you have 1, 2, 3, or 20, it is still a hold. There really isn't a reason for Edwards to put a hold on Leavitt but I guess it gets him in the news a little bit so he'll do it. The republicans say that they think they have enough votes to override the hold anyway.

[mbali]

5. Edwards Fights for Us

Edwards also has a hold on a horrible Bush judicial nominee - a former Jesse Helms staffer with a terrible record on civil rights. He's been blocking this nominee for more than two years and has stood his ground, even though the White House and North Carolina newspapers are pressuring him to relent, at the risk of alienating his conservative North Carolina constituents,

This man has a backbone and he's fighting for the regular guy.

[mbali]

6. Not so fast . . .

Don't assume the worst. It's a common procedure for more than one Senator to place a hold on a nominee. One reason is to make sure that the majority and the Administration know that there are others lined up to put on a hold in case the original Senator folds for any reason. This is a classic maneuver among Senators to say, "Don't mess with her - we got her back." It also signals other Senators - particularly those who are wavering - that there is considerable opposition to the nominee.