"The Senate seems likely to confirm Gina McCarthy as head of the Environmental Protection Agency in July despite warnings that President Barack Obama’s new climate agenda could torpedo her nomination."
"McCarthy should win support from Republicans who have traditionally opposed filibustering presidential nominees even if they have been critical of the climate change plan Obama announced last week to limit power plants’ carbon emissions.
Some Republicans are sure to oppose her, such as Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who has complained about transparency at the agency and called McCarthy either “arrogant or ignorant” for telling senators that the EPA was not pursuing greenhouse gas emissions for existing coal-fired power plants just weeks before Obama ordered the agency to do just that. Holding up McCarthy is one of the few near-term options Republicans have to protest Obama’s new EPA agenda.
There may be others like Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) — who currently has a hold on McCarthy because of a delayed water infrastructure project in the state — who are opposed at least until they get their parochial fix.
But there are likely to be enough Republicans who will maintain their philosophical opposition to filibustering a qualified presidential nominee — even if they vote against confirming them."
Darren Goode reports for Politico July 1, 2013.
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