Gina McCarthy's confirmation has been stalled by Senate Republicans who claimed she hadn't answered the 1,000 questions they gave her. Her confirmation vote, 59-40 on Thursday, results from a filibuster compromise that the Senate reached on Tuesday.
Michael A. Memoli writes that before even taking office, McCarthy, currently the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation at the Environmental Protection Agency, has set a record: Her nomination was "the longest delay for any of President Obama’s second-term Cabinet picks."
Obama announced McCarthy as his pick for the EPA post on March 4, when he also nominated Ernest Moniz to be secretary of Energy. Moniz was unanimously confirmed in May.
McCarthy, as administrator of the EPA, is expected to play the key role in implementing the president's Climate Action Plan (also described here) "to develop regulations designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants".
The vote was a direct outcome an "agreement on Tuesday to preserve the filibuster in exchange for confirmation votes on President Obama’s stalled nominees", described in The New York Times on July 16. That agreement called for seven nominees to be voted upon; McCarthy was the fourth so far.
Observers have written that her nomination had been stalled not because of objections to Ms. McCarthy personally but because Republicans are opposed to plans by the EPA to implement the president's climate program, which they are opposed to.
In a congratulatory, activist alert sent to members, the Natural Resources Defense Council wrote, "It has been a shocking 136 days since President Obama announced McCarthy's nomination for the role. Because of months of GOP grandstanding and political obstruction, McCarthy has a lot of work to do...But she's up for the job."
President Obama welcomed Ms. McCarthy's confirmation, stating that he looks “forward to having her in my Cabinet as we work to slow the effects of climate change and leave a cleaner environment for future generations”, wrote Juliet Eilperin in The Washington Post.
With her confirmation on July 18, she will join Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz and Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, as the key cabinet members to address energy and climate for President Obama.
FULL STORY: Senate confirms Gina McCarthy as new EPA head
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie