WATCH LIVE: EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt Senate Confirmation Hearing
The EPA nominee will face testy Democrats.
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the EPA, will face the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee at 10AM EST.
This has potential to become one of the more feisty confirmation hearings because of his ties to everything Democrats hate: fossil fuels, skeptical of man-made climate change, and lawsuits against the EPA.
Please watch live with us below and follow along as I live blog the hearing!
Now a pretty interesting subject: Is EPA liable for damages in Gold King Mine case. Pruitt says he'll do what he can to pay them.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Moran of Kansas wants EPA to cooperate with other agencies.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Pruitt: When agencies act inconsistently with rule of law it creates uncertainty.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Sullivan notes the fishermen need a permit to hose off their boat decks. 200 pages for that.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Sullivan touts Alaska's fishing industry. Says their #1 complaint is EPA overreach.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Sullivan of Alaska: EPA "believes it has the right to regulate every nook and cranny of American life."
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Pruitt repeats that EPA should have acted more quickly in Flint, Mich.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Duckworth chides Pruitt for not knowing more about the danger of lead in drinking water.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Responding to this now, Pruitt says endangerment finding is "there & needs to be enforced and respected." Says he knows no reason to review.
— Devin Henry (@dhenry) January 18, 2017
Pruitt on 2009 finding legally underpinning Obama climate rules: "The endangerment finding is there & needs to be enforced and respected."
— Amy Harder (@AmyAHarder) January 18, 2017
Pruitt: EPA has an obligation to be up to date on technology and science.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Inhofe says climate science not settled, brings up debunked "climate gate" charge that climate data was rigged.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Cardin: How effectively have states regulated fracking?
Pruitt: Oklahoma has regulated fracking for a long time.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
AGAIN:
Pruitt: Need to reject the paradigm that if pro-energy anti-environment or if pro-environment anti-energy.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Pruitt said he will follow advice of ethics attorneys when it comes to recusing himself from cases.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Carper: Do you believe setting standards that we actually provide certainty and open the door for economic activity.
Pruitt: I do.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Pruitt Touts The Importance Of “National Standards, Neighborhood Solutions” And State Collaborationhttps://t.co/nPwWqfQQm2
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) January 18, 2017
Sen. Barrasso: Pruitt the right choice to rein in rogue EPA https://t.co/LpdQyaFnRm
— Bent Rasmussen (@bentiras) January 18, 2017
Inhofe chimes in with WSJ op-ed about the "myth of the 97 percent," casting doubt on unanimity of scientific opinion on climate change.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Break time.
Sullivan of Alaska: "EPA needs a serious course correction. A lot of anger, even sense of fear, about this agency."
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Boozman: EPA says we're with you until you disagree with us.
Pruitt: EPA needs to be more proactive in working with states.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Pruitt tells Duckworth that his role is to enforce RFS, which he will do.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Pruitt: "Cooperative federalism" at the heart of many environmental rules. We need a partnership, a true partnership.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Ernst: "Fear and distrust of EPA." Folks are frustrated with "gotcha mentality."
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
A Pruitt supporter and opponent chatting in line outside EPW Committee door. pic.twitter.com/h9NoBUpqns
— Niina H. Farah (@niina_h_farah) January 18, 2017
Pruitt: I will recuse myself if EPA ethics council tells me to.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Why are people shocked that Pruitt holds a different opinion from his friends? He has to fall in line with Trump & Inhofe on climate change?
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Pruitt saying he would follow the guidelines to recuse himself from lawsuits against the EPA.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Booker: Do you know how many kids in Oklahoma have asthma?
Pruitt: I do not.
Booker: More than 10 percent. One of highest in country.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Look, Oklahoma thrives on the oil industry. It keeps us elevated. Someone please inform these senators of that fact.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Pruitt: the letter to the EPA was sent on behalf of the oil industry, which is VERY important to Oklahoma.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Pruitt says he'll honor ethanol standards.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Pruitt: "Not role of administrator of EPA to do anything other than administer law as intended by Congress."
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Cardin: Is there a safe level a young person can take in?
Pruitt: Something I'm not familiar with. I'd be very concerned about lead.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Whitehouse produces chart showing contributions to Pruitt, PACs and non-profits associated with him.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
In response to Dem @SenatorCarper, Pruitt says lawsuit against mercury rule was about EPA's cost-benefit analysis, not mercury itself.
— Amy Harder (@AmyAHarder) January 18, 2017
Pruitt: I believe the EPA is important due to the crossing of state lines and protecting our waters.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/Timothy_Cama/status/821741890244579328
Pruitt: Science tells us climate is changing & humans have some to do with it, but it's hard to determine how much.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Pruitt: We must listen to all VOICES when it comes to environmental laws.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Pruitt: We must reject the false paradigm that if you can't be pro-natural resources and anti-environment.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Lankford: Expects Pruitt to give deference to states on environmental matters, consider economic cost of environmental regs.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Lankford: Pruitt has worked to make sure the government stays within the Constitution.
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
Inhofe says Pruitt "hero" of scenic rivers group.
Demonstrators interrupt Inhofe.
"They obviously don't like scenic rivers," says Inhofe.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
OK Republican Sen. @jiminhofe to @ScottPruittOK: Touting Pruitt's role in settling big tribal water case.
— joe wertz (@joewertz) January 18, 2017
Inhofe: Pruitt has fought against federal overreach
— ⚾️ Mary #FlyTheW ? (@mchastain81) January 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/rebleber/status/821737853810053121
Carper: Highest point in Delaware is a bridge. Hmm. Possible Random Factoid of the Day.
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Carper: You must convince us you're committed to protect the environment in word and deed, "Your record suggests otherwise."
— Randy Krehbiel (@rkrehbiel) January 18, 2017
Sen. Barasso kicks off Pruitt hearing by citing Flint water crisis as one resulting from feds' “regulatory zeal."
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) January 18, 2017
Pruitt faces the photogs pic.twitter.com/g8JFzTVVjP
— Kevin Bogardus (@KevinBogardus) January 18, 2017
From the hallways outside the senate hearing of Scott Pruitt for EPA. pic.twitter.com/EKbqnXYj3l
— Jeremy Symons (@JeSymons) January 18, 2017
Scene outside the Pruitt nomination hearing. #EPA pic.twitter.com/UP0xLvFurt
— Sean McCann (@cspancrewchief) January 18, 2017
Medea Benjamin and some Native American protesters trying (in vain) to get into crowded Pruitt hearing room.
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) January 18, 2017
DONATE
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
Out of all of Trump’s appointments, I have to admit that this is the one I truly love! (and I try not to get emotional about these things)
Most people don’t realize that decisions by the EPA affect their day to day lives more than those made by almost any other agency. And the left has destroyed any honest look at what has become a runaway agency by repeating over and over, “If you oppose ANYTHING that the EPA says you must do, then YOU WANT PEOPLE TO DIE!!!”
That’s what passes for cost-benefit analysis on the left.
I want Pruitt to go after this agency like a starving bear goes after a fresh salmon, straight out of the river.
Tom – “That’s what passes for cost-benefit analysis on the left.”
Just to add to your point – The correct analysis is “marginal cost v marginal benefit” – Measuring each incremental cost against each corresponding incremental benefit”.
Take for example, the micro micro micro particulate matter.
At some incremental point, there is zero additional benefit, so it is a complete waste of money to try to improve beyond that point. Yet under the standard cost benefit analysis, there would appear to be some positive benefit to justify the cost and therefore impose the additional costs well beyond the point of any incremental benefit.
Their inanity goes beyond regulations that have a poor cost/benefit ratio. They actively hurt people with their stupidity. Take for example the asbestos abatement rules. If the asbestos had simply been left where it was people would have been safer. But no, the EPA had to force everybody to remove it, which made it airborne in the process which caused unknown thousands of cases of cancer. Truly morons.
I love the EPA’s version of science. They have repealed the law of diminishing returns.
Under the EPA’s science, each incremental improvement in air quality results in an ever increasing number of lives saved. Quite the opposite of diminishing returns.
I just switch over, was watching Price take a hit from Bernie. Bernie’s was trying to rope Price in saying things
that he did not agree to. Price is pretty good.
Pruitt is great. I love this. Go Scott!
In a cafeteria line at U of Wash in 1980, I asked the graduating law student behind me what she was going to do. She was going to work at EPA. Why I asked. “Because the government is always right.”
It’s easy to be a snowflake when the government can send a chill down everyone else’s spine.
Alaskabob – I graduated in 1978 with a degree in accounting. At that time there was a very definitive caste system on where the accounting graduates got jobs. The top 1/4 got jobs with the Big 8 (now big 4), the next 1/4- got accounting jobs in industry, the bottom 1/4 got jobs with the IRS or other government agencies. This casting system continues today.
This point should also be noted the next time you hear studies showing government employees earn less than private sector employees with comparable degrees.
Your point about the intelligence and abilities of graduates and where they go is well taken.
But the “pays less” line is no longer true. In fact, government workers earn far more than their private industry counterparts these days, especially when you take into account their lush pensions and frequent double-dipping.
Paul – Concur, In the 70’s through the mid 90’s, where accounting students got jobs was heavily based on their class ranking and the relative compensation level was based on the class ranking and where they got thier jobs. This tiered structure was extremely well known to everyone in accounting. The various government agencies have increased pay to where they are “competitive” with the private sector for the top grads, so there is now some mixing of the various tiers, However, they Gov’t agencies havent been able to pierce into the upper tiers since most high achieving students (at least accounting students) typically dont want to work in government.
Great points…. for her… it could have been being a SJW type of saving the planet… or… lower on the totem pole. Either way.. a government job has been a guaranteed job short of being an absolute failure (maybe).
As I recall the original mission of the EPA was to clean up toxic waste spills… talk about mission-creep!!
Ha, Ha, Ha, Duckworth is pushing ethanol and her nasty high fructose corn syrup. Both damaging things to our heath and cars.
Wow – I try to keep personal observations off the net, but I have to note that one dietary move that improved my health greatly was when I stopped consuming anything with HFCS in it. A bit difficult at first, but it mainly means that you don’t eat mass marketed crap.
Full disclosure, I added the HFCS. She was off the rails about protecting her corn farms.
I get better gas mileage with 100% gas. Even considering the cost differential, I’ll buy the 100%.
And, Oklahoma is a state that requires gas stations to label their pumps so you know if you are getting 100% or E10. My favorite station is On Cue which has the full range of options (E10, E85, 100% in 3 grades, CNG, Diesel and fast charge electric in certain locations). Love’s is another station with lots of options.
It drives me nuts to travel to other states and not know what I am purchasing, though in some stations around state parks, I discovered that the premium gas is 100% because of boat motors.
What the heck was the Harris comment about batting averages?
Sanders is up next, this is going to be good!
Sanders on the attack. Pruitt is protecting Oil and Gas. Sander saying human is the cause of global warming. Pruitt and Sanders are going at it.
Bernie is saying fracking is causing the earthquakes.
Sander is asking if Pruitt is doing everything to stop earthquakes. You are not going to get my vote.
Headlines tomorrow: Pruitt not Stopping Earthquakes so Sanders will not vote for him!
In Oklahoma, the Corporation Commission oversees the oil & gas industry not the Atty Gen’s office. They have done a lot of work with the industry and the OK Geological Survey to figure out what is happening.
It is not fracturing that is the main problem, but the high pressure injection waste water wells. The operators of the waste wells track how much they pump into the wells and at what pressure and they turn that info into the Commission either monthly or on demand. The Commission has shut down or reduced allowed amounts in areas that have had quakes and it seems to have quieted things down.
BTW, when there were minor quakes in the area, I discovered that I lived between a known fault line and the new activity. I immediately got an earthquake rider ($75). It was amusing that during the middle of a severe drought in Oklahoma, I received a postcard from the government encouraging me to get flood insurance.
And, I am an accountant, worked for nonprofits, and not the oil & gas industry. And I support an outrageous transportation fee for oil & gas to those states who shut down their nuke power plants. I’m looking at you New York!
And check out the OK Energy Resources Board website. http://www.oerb.com/
They have some interesting videos about drilling, fracturing and other things. And they also reclaim abandoned well sites through a fee charged to current oil/gas royalty owners and drillers. I wonder if the solar and wind farm people have the same commitment to cleaning up after themselves?
Bernie sure is ate up with bullshit.
I’ve watched Scott Pruitt’s hearing: He is excellent, and I am very impressed, and very optimistic.
Also excellent performances from Republican senators, such as Joni Ernst and Dan Sullivan.
The EPA is about to receive its comeuppance.
Article is incomplete. Needs an additional hundred tweets from total strangers.