Bush names Leavitt to head HHS, opening top EPA job

13 December 2004 17:09  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (CNI)--President George W Bush Monday named EPA administrator Mike Leavitt to serve as secretary for Health & Human Services (HHS) in Bush’s second term.

 

The job change for Leavitt is seen as something of a surprise because the former Utah governor has served as top administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for only 13 months.

 

Leavitt’s nomination must be approved by the Senate.

 

Leavitt’s move to HHS means Bush will have to nominate a new EPA chief, an appointment that invariably draws a lot of attention and controversy and frequently leads to confirmation battles in the Senate.

 

Leavitt’s Senate confirmation as EPA head in October 2003 came after two months of contention between Democrat senators and Bush administration officials. Democrats forced a parliamentary block on Leavitt’s confirmation for several weeks to express displeasure over Bush’s environmental policies. Among other things, the Democrats complained that Bush was cutting funding for EPA programs and generally favouring industry at the expense of environmental interests.

 

EPA has broad impact on the US chemicals industry and a variety of issues of importance to the industry.

 

By: Joe Kamalick
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