Path is clear for McCarthy's EPA nomination

by Jeremy Carroll

The path now really appears clear for Gina McCarthy to become the nation's 13th permanent administrator of the U.S. EPA.

After a lengthy hearing where the EPA, not McCarthy, seemed to be the subject, the blunt native of Boston has remained in her position as the assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation for the EPA while awaiting confirmation.

Republicans, led by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., held up the nomination, staging a boycott of a vote in the Environment and Public Works Committee. Democrats were outraged, Republicans said they just wanted the EPA to be more transparent by providing data to back up rulings the agency makes.

When negotiations moved forward, Vitter allowed the committee vote on McCarthy to go forward, and she advanced to the full Senate, where she's sat since May. It appeared the Republicans were still holding onto the filibuster option on McCarthy, meaning Democrats would need at least six Republicans to break with the party to allow her confirmation to move forward.

But Vitter again backed away, saying he would not filibuster McCarthy's nomination after the EPA agreed to various changes. Politico does an excellent job of breaking down what Vitter got for blocking McCarthy's nomination for so long.

With a number of President Obama's nominations stalled, Democrats flirted with the idea of changing Senate rules on how nominees are approved, but Republicans backed down, allowing an up-or-down vote for a number of nominees, including McCarthy. Her vote is likely coming in the next week or so.

Her first order of business might be her most controversial, as Obama recently issued a call-to-action for the EPA on climate change. That will likely mean new regulations for all sorts of emitters of pollution, which could include landfills and waste-to-energy facilities.

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