Corbett’s DEP pick confirmed after climate change dustup
Governor Corbett's nominee, Chris Abruzzo, was confirmed as head of the DEP (Marie Cusick/for StateImpact Pennsylvania)
Pennsylvania state senators have confirmed Gov. Tom Corbett’s latest nominee to be his environmental protection secretary, but not before a dustup over climate change.
Christopher Abruzzo won the Senate’s 42-8 confirmation vote Tuesday to head the Department of Environmental Protection.
Abruzzo has been dogged by accusations from Democrats that he’s inadequate for the job after he told a Senate panel last week that he’s unaware that climate change has inflicted any damage to human, animal or plant life.
Still, Abruzzo says climate change is real and that human activity contributes to it. Abruzzo’s background is in criminal justice and he has held the post of acting secretary since April.
Democratic Sen. Daylin Leach says Abruzzo lacks a commitment to scientific reality. Republican senators defended Abruzzo as a “problem solver.”
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.