House Democrats Force GOP Votes On FY19 Oversight Of Pruitt's Ethics

摘要

House Democrats used an appropriations panel markup of EPA's fiscal year 2019 funding bill to force GOP votes on amendments targeting agency Administrator Scott Pruitt's ethics problems, but Republicans largely rejected the efforts - including a proposal to increase funding for EPA's inspector general (IG), which is investigating several ethics issues.The votes during the June 6 markup highlight that Democrats are increasingly using Pruitt's various travel, security and spending scandals as a political tool to not only criticize the administrator as prioritizing special or private interests over protecting the public and the environment, but also to attack Republicans who support him."You can't drain a swamp when the drain is covered with first class ticket stubs, phone booths, and old Trump hotel mattresses," said House Appropriations Committee member Mark Pocan (D-WI) during the markup, referring to Pruitt's scandals that include: Seeking to buy a used mattress from the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., buying first class tickets for agency travel, installing a private phone booth in his office, and more.At least four House Republicans have called on Pruitt to resign, while no senator is making the same call, although Iowa's GOP senators suggest they could if he overhauls the renewable fuel standard to the detriment of farmers.But the votes at the full committee markup of EPA's FY19 funding bill show that most GOP lawmakers are, for now, rejecting efforts to increase oversight of Pruitt and his various ethics scandals.