Thursday, March 21, 2013

Panel approves Obama's Interior pick

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 19-3 Thursday to approve Sally Jewell, President Obama’s nominee to replace outgoing Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) voted against Jewell, the CEO of outdoor gear giant REI Inc. While the nomination cleared the panel, a number of GOP senators have not ruled out placing procedural barriers in front of Jewell before her nomination comes before the full Senate.  The vote proceeded after Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), the panel’s top Republican, said she secured an agreement from Salazar to revisit a preliminary decision not to allow a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Murkowski and other Alaskan lawmakers say the road is needed to provide emergency medical access to a small village called King Cove...more

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