PRUITT RESIGNS
Replaced by Andrew Wheeler, energy lobbyist.
His biggest client Murray Energy Co, bills itself as largest coal mining Co in U.S. whose CEO Robert E Murray, vigorously fought Obama admin attempts to reduce carbon emissions, strengthen environment/public health laws
Replaced by Andrew Wheeler, energy lobbyist.
His biggest client Murray Energy Co, bills itself as largest coal mining Co in U.S. whose CEO Robert E Murray, vigorously fought Obama admin attempts to reduce carbon emissions, strengthen environment/public health laws
Shortly after 45 took office, Murray, an unabashed climate denier, presented @VP with pro-coal action plan that called for doing away with Clean Power Plan, withdrawing from Paris climate agreement, eliminating federal tax credits for renewable energy, yes halving EPA’s workforce
Wheeler serves as VP of Washington Coal Club, powerful yet little-known federation of 300+ coal producers, lawmakers, business leaders, policy experts who've dedicated themselves to preserving uncertain future of our dirtiest fossil fuel.
Wheeler clearly loves coal, he’s also made time to lobby U.S. Dept of Interior to open portions of the Bears Ears National Monument to uranium mining
It gets worse
Before joining his current K Street lobbying firm, Wheeler worked as legislative aide to Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe
It gets worse
Before joining his current K Street lobbying firm, Wheeler worked as legislative aide to Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe
Inhofe is most virulent climate denier on Capitol Hill, a man who regularly refers to science of climate change as greatest hoax ever perpetrated on American people, who told 1 radio interviewer educating schoolchildren on basics of climate science was tantamount to brainwashing
When Wheeler’s nomination was announced, Inhofe effusively praised decision, sayin there's no 1 more qualified than Andrew to help Pruitt restore EPA to its proper size/scope & referred to Wheeler as his close friend.
The 2 are close enough Wheeler thought it perfectly appropriate to organize fund-raiser for Inhofe last May, an act many believe crossed ethical lines.
The line on Wheeler from people in the know: he’s essentially Pruitt’s ideological twin, his many yrs as a Washington insider have endowed him with a political savvy that Pruitt sorely lacks.
Were increasingly embattled Pruitt to resign, few believe this replacement would deviate from Pruitt’s path of rolling back protections, propping up the moribund coal industry, putting energy company profits ahead of public health.
From all accounts, Wheeler doesn’t appear to be paranoid, self-aggrandizing morale destroyer with highly developed taste for taxpayer-funded 1st-class travel.
He has more friends than enemies in Washington, seems unlikely to shoot himself in the foot or otherwise self-destruct.
He has more friends than enemies in Washington, seems unlikely to shoot himself in the foot or otherwise self-destruct.
In the end, that might actually make Andrew Wheeler even more dangerous than Pruitt, not less.
#FlipTheHouse
#FlipTheSenate
#VoteThemAllOut
#FlipTheHouse
#FlipTheSenate
#VoteThemAllOut
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