Highlights of Scott Pruitt’s EPA hearing
On Wednesday, Attorney General Scott Pruitt had his Senate confirmation hearing. Pruitt is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency. We compiled some highlights.
AG rarely uses power to file discrimination cases
A 2011 law dissolved the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission and transferred its duties and $500,000 budget to Attorney General Scott Pruitt. Since then, he’s cut the staff in half and filed just three discrimination cases in court. His office also has not provided a report on racial profiling to the governor’s office, as required by state law.
‘We are doomed:’ Citizen EPA comments on Pruitt show depth of concern
Comments submitted to the EPA reveal deep concerns about how Attorney General Scott Pruitt would impact air, water and land if confirmed to lead the agency: “Our country cannot go back to a path of sacrificing our children and children’s futures.”
ACA repeal expected to damage state’s health
Repealing Obamacare could eventually cost 300,000 Oklahomans their health coverage, OK Policy estimates. It could also force more rural hospitals to close and cost lives. Demonstrators met with U.S. Sen. James Lankford last week to put a face on the issue.
‘The general’ sided with energy industry in war with the EPA
Attorney General Scott Pruitt was favored by industry as “the general” who would lead a group of Republican attorneys general into battle over EPA regulations.
Despite Trump’s threats, enforcing immigration laws ‘not part of our mandate’ local officials say
President-elect Donald Trump talked of mass deportation during his campaign. Local officials say they don’t have a mandate to enforce federal immigration law and plan no changes in their current approach.
Energy companies joined Pruitt EPA suits while donating to campaign
A new study by the Environmental Defense Fund reviewed state and federal campaign contribution records for Pruitt’s campaign and political action committees associated with him. The group found that in 13 out of 14 lawsuits Pruitt brought against the agency he hopes to lead, companies suing along with him had donated to his campaign or to PACs that support Pruitt.
Listen Frontier: TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist talks about Oklahoma school funding
TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist talks about teacher pay and school funding with The Frontier’s Ziva Branstetter.
