Senator Ben Cardin says he will oppose the nomination of former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Maryland Democrat says that he is concerned about whether Pruitt truly believes in the EPA’s mission to protect the public health and environment.
Cardin said he does not understand why Pruitt would want to head the agency after repeatedly suing and criticizing it.
Maryland’s senior senator said that this is different than the nominee who showed up at the confirmation hearings supporting the multi-state effort to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.
As for climate change he noted that while Pruitt did not call it a hoax as President Donald Trump has done he has used language about a continuing debate on the human contribution.
Cardin also said that Pruitt had a record of hostility toward the need to cut carbon pollution.
