Bush renews push for nominees

WASHINGTON, April 1 (UPI) -- President Bush is not backing off his intention to put three nominees in top environmental regulatory posts despite objections about their pro-industry views.

The White House has resubmitted the names of William Wehrum to head the Environmental Protection Agency's air office, Alex A. Beehler for EPA inspector general and Susan Dudley for White House regulations chief, the Los Angeles Times said Sunday.

Industry lobbyists and GOP congressional sources say Bush is prepared to get around the Senate approval process if necessary by making recess appointments, the newspaper reported.

White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said the administration considers the trio "highly qualified and well-versed in their areas" but would not speculate whether Bush would avoid a Senate showdown.

The three nominees have ties to industries regulated by the EPA and have previously bypassed or questioned the EPA's scientific methods.

Dudley's nomination ran aground last year when the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee declined to vote on it. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who blocked the appointments of Wehrum and Beehler last year, said she views it as "an enormous threat to public health that the president refuses to back off."