Democrats Want EPA Guided by Science—–Attack Pruitt’s Reputation

SenCarper

If Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt doesn’t know it by now that Democrats will go after him during his confirmation hearing Wednesday morning to run the EPA, then he’s not been paying attention.

Democrats on the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee made it clear last week, they stand with some scientists who say the EPA should be guided by science and not politics.

While Pruitt can expect friendly questioning by Republicans on the committee, including Sen. Jim Inhofe, the former chairman, he knows Democrats will go after him hard on the lawsuits he filed against the EPA.

“We need an EPA that listens to doctors—-that listens to scientists, rather than special interests when it comes to setting crucial health standards to clean our air, clean our water and protect us from toxic chemicals,” said Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), the top Democrat on the committee. “An EPA that ignores sound science puts our children’s health at risk. Indeed, it puts all of our health at risk.”

He was joined by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and representatives of environmental and scientific groups in making their stance clear. Others included Collin O’Mara who is President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation; Dr. Samantha Ahdoot, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; David McCabe, Senior Scientists with the Clean Air Task Force; and Trisha Sheehan and Kay Mills with the Moms Clean Air Force.

Listen to part of a recent news conference where Senator Sheldon Whitehouse criticizes the fossil fuel industry, then is joined by Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey.