"RICHMOND — Democrats who control the [Virginia] state Senate thwarted a Republican effort on Tuesday to revive the Cabinet bid of former Trump administration official Andrew Wheeler, leaving Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) embattled appointee in limbo.

The party-line vote is not likely to end Youngkin’s efforts to install Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist who led a rollback of Obama-era environmental regulations as Environmental Protection Agency chief under President Donald Trump.

Wheeler’s appointment as secretary of natural and historic resources will remain viable until the General Assembly session adjourns March 12. Like Youngkin’s other 15 nominees, Wheeler has been on the job since the governor took office Jan. 15."

Laura Vozzella reports for the Washington Post February 8, 2022. [2]