Senate confirms EPA Administrator

In Washington, Reuters reports that the Senate has confirmed the acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to the role permanently in a tight 52-47 vote. Democrats and a sole Republican voted against his confirmation due to his record of easing environmental protections while the remaining Republicans eagerly welcomed him to the permanent position in hopes of weakened regulations especially for oil and coal. Despite pushback from oil state Senators over the Renewable Fuel Standard, in the end they still voted in favor of his nomination.