SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - During Scott Pruitt's confirmation hearing as the EPA nominee, Senator Mike Rounds said you don't have to chose between preserving the environment and preserving the economy.
Rounds said as Oklahoma Attorney General, Pruitt represented both the state's economy and environment. Rounds said "just because you are pro-economic development does not mean that you have to be anti-environment."
Rounds asked Pruitt how he would balance economic growth with making certain the nation will have clean air and clean water.
Pruitt said "Sometimes rulemaking is seen as something that is not terribly important or something laborious, but the reason Congress has said the EPA must offer notice on a proposed rule and take comment, is that it's needed to make sure all voices are heard."
In the hearing in front of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works, Pruitt made clear his position favoring a states' rights responsibility on environmental regulation. He blames the current agency of overreach in the Obama administration.
Democrats noted that Pruitt, as Oklahoma's Attorney General, sued the EPA 14 times to block federal air and water pollution regulations.