"Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Republicans today pushed through President Trump's nomination of Scott Pruitt to be U.S. EPA administrator over Democrats' objections.

For the second day in a row, EPW Democrats did not show for the committee vote on the Republican Oklahoma attorney general. Consequently, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the panel's chairman, suspended committee rules and approved Pruitt's nomination to send him on to the Senate floor.

'We will not allow it to obstruct,' Barrasso said. 'It's unprecedented for the minority to delay an EPA administrator for an incoming president to this extent.'"

Kevin Bogardus reports for Greenwire February 2, 2017. [2]