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GOP senators boycott vote on McCarthy for EPA

Frustrated by what they call a lack of transparency from the EPA, all eight Republican senators on the Environment and Public Works committee boycotted a scheduled vote on Obama nominee Gina McCarthy to head the EPA.

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Joshua Roberts/Reuters/File
Gina McCarthy testifies before a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on her nomination to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on Capitol Hill in Washington in April 11. On May 9, 2013, all eight GOP senators on the committee boycotted the hearing scheduled to vote on her nomination, citing frustration with the EPA rather than McCarthy herself.
  • By Dina Cappiello Associated Press

| WASHINGTON

Senate Republicans boycotted Thursday a scheduled committee vote on President Barack Obama's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

All eight GOP members of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee failed to show up at the meeting to consider the nomination of Gina McCarthy, who currently heads the EPA's air pollution office. Committee rules require at least two minority members to be present for a vote.

Republicans are demanding answers from the EPA on a range of transparency issues. But they aren't satisfied with the responses they've received.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, who heads the committee, urged Republicans to vote, or she said Democrats alone would advance McCarthy's bid.

White House spokesman Jay Carney, speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Texas, called on Republicans "to stop the theater and to move forward with the process."

Carney said there has been "an historic level of obstructionism" on McCarthy and other nominees.

House and Senate Republican leaders told Obama Thursday that they will refuse to nominate candidates to serve on an advisory board that is to play a role in holding down Medicare costs under the new health care act.

And on Wednesday, Republicans used a procedural move to delay a Senate panel from considering the confirmation of Obama's pick to the head the Labor Department.

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