Amazing how Pruitt can't remember saying Trump is worse than Obama just 2 years ago!
Sen. Merkley tells Pruitt he's 0 for 15 in actions that actually protect air quality.
Merkley asks if Pruitt disagrees with the president when he says asbestos is 100 percent safe. Pruitt tries to dodge, but then changes course.
Sen. Van Hollen asks Pruitt if he agrees EPA decisions should be based on fact and merit. Pruitt says, "Generally, yes."
Van Hollen is now grilling Pruitt on the Definers contract, which was first reporter by my colleagues at @MotherJones motherjones.com/politics/2017/… Pruitt says the contract has been canceled.
Sen. Whitehouse grilling Pruitt on a trip to Oklahoma where he was supposed to go to a GOP fundraiser in violation of the Hatch Act. Whitehouse is asking him to provide a schedule of what he actually did that day. talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/epa-p…
Duckworth asks Pruitt if he found Morocco to be a shithole when he visited. Barrasso says her time has expired before Pruitt can answer.
Pruitt did say he would provide schedules, details, meetings, receipts etc. regarding all his international travel.
Barrasso holds up a WaPo article that he says shows what a good job Pruitt's EPA is doing on Superfund sites.
Pruitt says he's proud of the work the EPA has done "getting accountability" for Superfund, cites Sen. Carper's earlier statements about Pruitt trying to take credit for cleaning up sites that were cleaned under Obama.
Pruitt says the "red team, blue team" exercise on climate change is still under consideration.
Merkley asks Pruitt if he thinks the scientific world split down the middle on climate changing, but Pruitt says red team-blue team exercise originated not with him but with a scientist.
Carper goes off on cross-border pollution and Inhofe for not letting him get 5 minutes for questioning.
He says he could have shut down his states entire economy but he still would be out of compliance for air quality because of pollution from other states.
Aaaaand we're adjourned. Thanks for following along and if you were playing Scott Pruitt bingo, I hope you won!
