Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Topic: LePage’s controversial BEP nominee confirmed
In a nearly unanimous vote this morning, the Senate confirmed Kathleen Chase, Governor LePage’s nominee for the Board of Environmental Protection– an appointee so controversial that environmental groups that say they have never opposed a nominee, spoke in opposition at a public hearing yesterday. The only vote in against the confirmation came from Senator Dave Miramant, a Democrat from Camden. The Senate’s vote took less than 2 minutes, and was done with no discussion or debate. They devoted significantly more time this morning to honoring a middle school band and recognizing various visitors, than they did to making this decision.
Today on Maine Currents we’re going to take a look at how this nomination was approved, starting with the confirmation hearing yesterday before the legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee.