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Slowdown in Interior nominees

Not much noted amid the headlines about other Obama Administration nominees – some sliding through, some held up – is the story of David Hayes, formerly of the World Wildlife Fund and chairman of the board of American Rivers and once an Interior official in the Clinton Administration. Not an especially controversial guy, evidently, but not to the liking of certain interests. Turns out that Utah Senator Bob Bennett has put a hold in his nomination, which could freeze it in place for some time.

Ray Ring of the High Country News has posted a piece on this, including some review of what underlies Bennett’s actions, that’s well worth review. Ring concludes: “No doubt there are other Senate Republicans who think Hayes is OK … but they’re also gunshy of the rightwingers they would face in their primaries. Another reason the rightwingers fight this round so fiercely: They’re gearing up for the upcoming battles over Obama’s call for raising taxes on the oil and gas industry.”

The key players aren’t specifically Northwestern, but the impact surely is.

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