McCarthy Nomination for EPA Administrator Stalled by Boycott in Committee

Reuters reports that all eight Republican members of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee refused to participate in a scheduled vote on May 9, 2013.  The boycott prevented Gina McCarthy’s nomination from proceeding to the next step, which would be a full Senate vote.  David Vitter (R-LA), the top Republican on the Committee, reportedly said the boycott was based on McCarthy’s refusal to answer questions about agency transparency.  McCarthy submitted answers to over 1,000 written questions that Republican senators asked of her following  McCarthy’s confirmation hearing on April 11, 2013.  Democrats hold a majority of the seats on the Committee.  If all Democratic members of the Committee participate in the next vote, which is not yet scheduled, McCarthy’s nomination is expected to proceed to the full Senate.