Democratic Boycott Stalls Action on Trump EPA Nominee Pruitt

Republicans quashed similar fight on Mnuchin and Price
Democrats skeptical Pruitt will uphold environmental rules

Scott Pruitt, attorney general of Oklahoma, arrives at Trump Tower in New York on Dec. 7, 2016.
Photographer: John Taggart/Bloomberg

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By Jennifer A Dlouhy and Ari Natter

February 1, 2017 at 3:52 PM UTC

Updated on

February 1, 2017 at 4:29 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Senate Democrats stalled action on President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, boycotting a committee vote to advance Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt amid questions about his commitment to upholding clean air and water protections.

It was the second time in as many days that Democrats had taken the unusual step of exploiting committee rules to halt action on Trump’s cabinet nominees. On Wednesday, Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee voted to suspend the panel’s rules, allowing them to advance the nominations of Steven Mnuchin to run the Treasury Department and Tom Price to head Health and Human Services.