The U.S. Senate confirmation of lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to be number two in charge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rang up another name linked to Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe.
Wheeler, a lobbyist for the coal industry is also a former staffer to Inhofe. He was chief counsel for Sen. Inhofe from 1995 to 1997 then served under the Senator as staff director and top attorney on the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
“I am pleased that after months of delay and unwarranted obstruction, the Senate has finally confirmed my good friend, Andrew Wheeler, to serve as Deputy Administrator of the EPA,” Inhofe said in a written statement. “I know he will be a good steward of the environment without punishing our states, farmers and job creators.”
Sen. Inhofe led the push in the Senate last week in encouraging support for Wheeler and eventually, the senate confirmed his nomination on a 53-45 vote.
“You know, it’s awfully hard to find anyone who knows him well who will say anything bad about him,” Inhofe said of Wheeler in a speech on the Senate floor. “I guess the only thing you could criticize him for is he worked for me for 14 years, but I will tell you that during that time frame, I don’t remember … anyone ever accusing him of being unfair and being negative in any way at all.”
