Following a boycott Wednesday, the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head up the Environmental Protection Agency passed a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee vote this morning. The committee’s 10 Democrats did not attend yesterday’s meeting, saying they were “deeply concerned” about a lack of thoroughness of Pruitt’s responses to their questions.
South Dakota Senator John Thune says he met with Pruitt and is comfortable with his position on regulations and the RFS.

Thune says farm state Senators pushed Pruitt during the confirmation hearings and he confirmed his support of renewable fuels, even though as Oklahoma attorney general he represented big oil.

South Dakota Corn Growers President Keith Alverson agrees Pruitt’s Senate testimony was acceptable and they are supporting his approval, but they’re going to hold him to his word.

As AG, Pruitt was engaged in lawsuits against the EPA, including one over the EPA Waters of the U.S. rule.