Pruitt’s New Deputy: A Coal Lobbyist Steeped in Washington’s Ways

OK ....This is what they [ you know who] want to do. Go back to the environmental controls we had in 1950. [zero] Then live as we do now with twice the population. Good luck....am i missing something.

Draining the swamp? More like putting its creatures in charge.

Coal has no future and Mr Wheeler must know this, he surely is a smart man. If he only applied his talents and energy to developing forward-looking ideas and technologies, instead of insisting on cleaning coal. He would make his family proud in the process. Instead, he risks his decedents feeling shame when reading in history books about dirty legacy of their great great grandpa.

Next time someone tells you about reasonable, moderate, problem-solving Republicans, remember this vote: Collins, Yes. Corker, Yes. Flake, Yes. EVERY Republican except the absent John McCain, Yes. Democrats: 45 No, 2 Yes, 1 absent. For anyone still not paying attention, there's a difference between the two parties: a big one. The Times should really link to the votes when they cover important issues like this. But here they are: https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cf...

The EPA protects the citizens of this country and of the world from the consequences of unregulated capitalism. Remember acid rain? Many Americans don't. Do you want to go back to that? This man and his boss are enemies of the people and of truth.

We all need clean air and water to live healthy lives - even Scott Pruitt and now Mr. Wheeler. Do these guys really have a death wish for themselves and their children and grandchildren or maybe they are stockpiling bottled water and oxygen against the environmental dystopia they seem intent on bringing about.

Growing up, I remember the supposedly funny oxymoron of "army intelligence." Pruitt is well on his way to doing the same for the agency he heads; "Environmental Protection Agency." Anyone would be hard-pressed to name one action he has taken to protect our environment since he took the lead of the agency. At the rate he is going, now with new #2, he may as well just close the shop down. Of course, in doing so, he would give up the lavish perks he has bestowed upon himself. It must be a difficult choice for him to make.

Wouldn't it be easier for Trump/Republicans to just abolish the EPA

Make Corruption Great Again Trump-Pruitt-Wheeler-Ryan-McConnell 2018 Vote on November 6 2018 in record numbers, America. Clean air, water and soil depend on it.

And just when I was getting excited about Trump kicking Pruitt to the curb, King Coal steps in deposits another stooge. Welcome to Kentucky, America-- where those in charge of the environment come from the industry that's been destroying it for years. Let's pray the good people of West (by God) Virginia have enough hutzpah to send convicted coal mine magnate Don Blankenship packing (and not to the US Senate).

A former coal lobbyist and climate change denier is now in a high-ranking position in the EPA, you say? Sure, why not. *pours another drink*

The swamp will not be drained, but the alligators will be replaced.

Now running the Environmental Pollution Agency, Dr Evil and his understudy, Dr. Evil #2. Everyone breathe....and breathe out....and feel the soot, smog, and nitrogen oxide from beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous coal poisoning your lungs and mixing itself into the waterways. Make Pollution Great Again Trump-Pruitt-Wheeler-GOP 2018

"Former E.P.A. officials describe him as well positioned to pursue Mr. Trump’s agenda as effectively as Mr. Pruitt, or even more so, by moving more slowly but in ways likelier to withstand legal challenge." Oh, my. Why does the American electorate sit still for an EPA bent on destroying their environment? "Democrats have long sought to delay Mr. Wheeler’s confirmation. “He’s part of the climate denial fringe, he’s a coal lobbyist and there’s a possibility he’ll be running the agency if Scott Pruitt goes down,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, who has emerged as one of Congress’ loudest proponents of climate change policy." You go get 'em, Sheldon! “Andy Wheeler is the most competent and qualified person for the job he’s been asked to fulfill,” Mr. Inhofe said. “Anyone who sat through his confirmation hearing would tell you he did a masterful job.” James Inhofe, science denier extraordinaire, puts in his two cents. Mr Inhofe should take a few classes in mathematics, chemistry and physics. Perhaps he could learn something. What is it with Oklahoma?

This reminds me of a limerick about the coal industry: If your industry's known to pollute, And you can't, with mere facts, this dispute, You should paint yourself green, Saying coal can be clean, And make sure that your spokeswoman's cute.

This science-denying, dirty air lobbyist is scarier than Pruitt. Why the heck do near-bankrupt states with awful education metrics have so much power over the rest of us?

the administration still batting 1.000 with cesspool corruption appointees.

Pruitt and Wheeler hate their own children and grandchildren (etc) so much, that they are poisoning their future. Maybe they could be charged with child abuse? And think of all the fetuses they are endangering. I'm amazed that the anti-abortion lobby doesn't jump on the EPA.

The worst of the worst somehow continues to get worse. This sick joke on America has a solution. Time to step up, Congress, and enect the 25th Amendment, Article 4. Then We can make America America again. The whole world is watching and waiting. Time to step up.

Good thing Trump is draining the swamp. I'd hate to think how DC might malfunction if he brought lobbyists into his administration & his kids into the white house, signed big tax breaks for real estate developers, and let Limbaugh & Breitbart be his advisors. Thank God he's making America Great again !

I think Pruit and cohorts will do to the US what Michigan politicians did to Flint.

This is just another reason not to vote for Republicans this November. They may have concerns about Pruitt, yet approve someone else like Pruitt, unfit to run the EPA.

Just when I thought they got the POTUS on his way out, he’s going to install these insidious sharpshooters to carry-on his detrimental policy environmental policy that is, for a little while after

There's no bottom here--that's what we keep learning.

Wheeler’s history is not in protecting the environment. His new job does not bode well for us.

They're going to have to come up with a new title for this department, after all you can't have the words Environmental Protection with the people that are running it now. How about Economy Producing Agency, this fits with the way they are ruining it and filling the pockets of Trump and his cronies. If this is how a government is suppose to work in the best interest of the people it serves, I can't wait to see work to destroy the people it serves.

Who better to serve as #2 in the Trump EPA than an anti-environment DC swamp creature, who specializes in lurking below the surface and dragging his victims under quietly? The victims of Trump, Pruitt and Wheeler are younger and future generations who will be most impacted by the Pruitt legacy.