Leavitt Held Hostage

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Byline: THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today will once more consider the nomination of Mike Leavitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Considering the politics already in play, Republicans must be prepared to contend as hard as necessary to get his nomination to the floor.

By right, Mr. Leavitt's name should already be there. He was nominated by Mr. Bush on Aug. 11, and his first hearing was scheduled for Sept. 18. That hearing was postponed at the request of Democrats. After the Sept. 23 hearing, the nomination was scheduled for a committee mark up on October 1. Yet, rather than allow his nomination to go to the …