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Wednesday January 24 1:56 PM ET
Senate Panel Backs Norton As Interior Chief
By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
backed Gale Norton as the next U.S. interior secretary on Wednesday, clearing
the way for her confirmation by the full Senate despite fierce opposition from
environmental groups.
One of President George W. Bush's most controversial nominees, Norton reached
out to Democratic critics at her confirmation hearings, promising to act as a
``compassionate conservationist,'' to enforce environmental laws and to
preserve the nation's parks.
Environmental groups and a few Democrats scoffed at Norton's assurances, citing
her record of opposition to the Endangered Species Act and her ties to oil,
natural gas and grazing interests.
But in the end, the Energy Committee backed Bush's interior nominee by a vote
of 18-2, and Republicans and Democrats alike predicted that Norton would be
confirmed next week by the full Senate. ``I think it will be a large vote'' in
Norton's favor, Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle said.
Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer praised Norton, telling reporters ``the president
believes she will make an outstanding secretary of the interior.''
And Energy Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski lashed out at environmentalists.
``I think these groups went overboard with their rancorous and misleading
attacks on her, and they have truly hurt their credibility,'' said Murkowski,
an Alaska Republican.
Democrats on the committee said they continued to have concerns about Norton's
record but would take the nominee at her word. ``Her actions as secretary will
ultimately speak louder than anything she has said,'' said Sen. Jeff Bingaman
of New Mexico, the committee's ranking Democrat.
Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Charles Schumer of New York stood
alone in voting against Norton becoming the first woman to head the Interior
Department, responsible for managing nearly half a billion acres of federal
land and enforcing laws protecting threatened and endangered species.
``I strongly hope her record in office proves me wrong,'' Wyden said.
A Watt Protege
A former Libertarian, Norton, 46, began her career as a lawyer with the
Mountain States Legal Foundation, a law firm headed by James Watt, a
controversial interior secretary during the Reagan administration.
Environmentalists reviled Watt for favoring opening of public lands for
exploration.
Norton was elected in 1990 as Colorado's first female attorney general before
term limits forced her from office in 1998.
Environmental groups said they were crushed. In television, radio and
newspaper advertisements, the Sierra Club and other organizations derided
Norton as an ``anti-environmental extremist'' who would favor logging,
grazing and mining interests over land conservation.
Friends of the Earth President Brent Blackwelder staunchly opposed the
nomination. ``Gale Norton is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and she pulled the
wool over the eyes of most of the Democrats on the committee,'' he said.
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