Republicans boycott committee vote on EPA nominee

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans have boycotted a scheduled committee vote on President Barack Obama’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

All eight GOP members of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee failed to show up at the meeting Thursday to consider Gina McCarthy’s nomination. Committee rules require at least two minority members to be present for a vote.

Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, who heads the committee, urged Republicans to vote, or she said Democrats alone would advance McCarthy’s bid.

Republicans are demanding answers from the EPA on a range of transparency issues. But they aren’t satisfied with the answers they’ve received.

On Wednesday, Republicans used a procedural move to delay a Senate panel from considering the confirmation of Obama’s pick to the head the Labor Department.