Virginia state Sen.Joseph Morrissey (D) on Tuesday questioned Andrew Wheeler
Andrew WheelerVirginia withdraws from multi-state coalition supporting EPA in Climate lawsuit Overnight Energy & Environment Lummis keeps up Biden EPA picks150 ex-EPA staffers to ask Virginia lawmakers NOT TO SUPPORT Wheeler MORE, Gov. Glenn Youngkin
Glenn YoungkinDemocrats losing ground with suburban and independent voters: poll A bipartisan path forward is possible on election and voter security. Virginia’s new Republican AG urged the Supreme Court not to overturn Roev. Wade MORE(R) nominee to be state secretary of natural resource, and his time as former President Trump
Donald TrumpSheldon Silver, former New York Assembly Speaker, has died at 77. Democrats are losing ground with suburban and independent voters: poll Bipartisan Senate panel discusses changes to electoral lawThe head of the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA), asked why Trump couldn’t convince him that climate change was real.
Morrissey, speaking at the hearing of the state Senates Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, complimented Wheeler for being a highly articulate and persuasive individual. He asked Morrissey, “Why do you think your former boss, President Trump, didn’t convince you that climate change was real and could have potentially devastating effects on our environment?”
Wheeler said that Trump had taken specific climate actions in 2017, such as withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017. He also stated that his discussions with Trump were more focused on issues like the Affordable Clean Energy rule and Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards.
Wheeler also addressed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative(RGGI) during the hearing. This is an 11-state carbon marketplace that Virginia joined in 2021. Youngkin had promised to withdraw from this compact, but advocates and environmentalists have claimed that he lacks the authority as the legislature voted for it. Youngkin called instead for the State Air Pollution Control Board (State Air Pollution Control Board) to vote on whether to exit in an executive order.
When Wheeler was asked if he agreed that “RGGI can’t be adjusted, modified or eliminated by edicts of the governor” and that it must be done by the General Assembly, Wheeler replied “I think that will form part of the assessment. [the state Department of Environmental Quality]is undertaking, but right now RGGI seems to be the law of state.”
Trump repeatedly called climate change a hoax, both before and after his election. Trump stated in a CBS interview in October 2018 that there was probably a climate change, but that Wheeler was acting as EPA chief.
Wheeler acknowledged the existence of human-caused climate changes, but stated in 2019 that he didn’t see it as an existential danger.
Environmentalists were alarmed by Youngkins’ nomination of Wheeler. Wheeler is a former coal lobbyist who rolledback numerous Obama-era environmental regulations.
Leaders in Virginia’s state Senate where Democrats still hold a majority have indicated that they have the votes and will to block his confirmation. Morrissey, who is considered a moderate but whose vote is not guaranteed by the majority, told The Hill earlier in the month that he will not be supporting Wheelers nomination.
Updated at 4:22 p.m.
