Jump to content

Andrew R. Wheeler: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →‎EPA (2017-): Removed repetitive text.
Tag: references removed
The subject recently assumed a Cabinet level position. Sources for recent changes may be more opinion pieces than they are factual reporting.
Line 1: Line 1:
{{POV}}
{{About||the basketball player|Andrew Wheeler|the soccer player|Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu}}
{{About||the basketball player|Andrew Wheeler|the soccer player|Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder

Revision as of 07:00, 7 July 2018

For the basketball player, see Andrew Wheeler. For the soccer player, see Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu.
Andrew Wheeler
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Acting
Assuming office
July 9, 2018
PresidentDonald Trump
SucceedingScott Pruitt
Deputy Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 20, 2018
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byRobert Perciasepe
Personal details
Born1962 or 1963 (age 61–62)[1]
Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationCase Western Reserve University (BA)
Washington University (JD)
George Mason University (MBA)

Andrew R. Wheeler is an American lawyer and former lobbyist currently serving as Deputy Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).[2] He was previously a lobbyist in the law firm Faegre Baker Daniels, representing coal magnate Robert Murray and lobbying against the Obama administration's environmental regulations.[3] Wheeler was previously an aide to U.S. Senator James Inhofe, prominent for his rejection of climate change.[4] Wheeler is a critic of limits on greenhouse gas emissions and the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.[5]

In October 2017, Wheeler was nominated by President Donald Trump to become Deputy Administrator of the EPA,[6] and renominated in January 2018.[7] He was confirmed on April 12, 2018.[8]

On July 9, 2018, Wheeler will assume the position of acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, after the resignation of Scott Pruitt.[9]

Early life and education

Wheeler was born in Hamilton, Ohio.[10] He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and biology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio (1987)[11] and a Juris Doctor from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (1990).[12] In 1998, he also completed a Master of Business Administration at George Mason University.[10]

Career

EPA (1991-1995)

Wheeler's first job between 1991 and 1995 was with the Environmental Protection Agency,[13][3] working on toxic chemical, pollution prevention, and right-to-know issues. At the EPA, Wheeler received the Agency's Bronze Medal in 1993 and twice in 1994.[14]

Staffer for Sen. Jim Inhofe

Wheeler worked as majority staff director, minority staff director, and chief counsel at the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.[6] Wheeler began his work in Congress as a staff member of Senator Jim Inhofe.[3]

During his time at the Senate, he was named by the National Journal as one of the Top Congressional Staff Leaders in 2005 and was a John C. Stennis Congressional Staff Fellow in the 106th Congress.[14]

Lobbying

Wheeler was a lobbyist at the law firm Faegre Baker Daniels' energy and natural resources practice.[15] Starting in 2009, he represented the coal producer Murray Energy,[16] privately owned by Robert E. Murray, a supporter of President Trump.[17] Murray Energy was Wheeler's best-paying client, paying more than $300,000 during the period 2009-2017.[4] He has been a proponent of the coal industry, having lobbied against climate change policy and greenhouse gas emission regulation.[18] Wheeler lobbied on behalf of Murray against the Obama administration's climate regulations for power plants and also sought to persuade the Energy Department to subsidize coal plants.[3] Wheeler set up a meeting between Murray and Energy Secretary Rick Perry in March 2017; at the meeting, Murray advocated for the rollback of environmental regulations and for protections for the coal industry.[4]

Environmental views

Wheeler publishes articles in the magazine Law360.[14] In 2010, he questioned the scientific rigor of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,[19] expressing his impression that the positions of the organization were based more on political worldview than scientific facts.[17]

Wheeler is Chairman Emeritus of the National Energy Resources Organization.[20] He is Vice President of the Washington Coal Club.[14][21] He is also a member of Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs Technical Review Panel for the Energy Concentration.[14]

EPA (2017-)

In October 2017, Wheeler was nominated by President Donald Trump to become Deputy Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).[6] His nomination was returned to the White House on January 3, 2018 under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6.[7] His nomination was resubmitted and he was confirmed as Deputy Administrator of the EPA on April 12, 2018, by a mostly party line vote of 53–45, that included three Democratic Senators: Joe Manchin, Heidi Heitkamp, and Joe Donnelly.[8] Former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler's nomination as Deputy Administrator was submitted to become Pruitt's deputy in 2017, but was not confirmed. It was resubmitted in 2018. He was confirmed as Deputy Administrator of the EPA on April 12, 2018, by a mostly party line vote of 53–45, which included three Democratic Senators, Joe Manchin, Heidi Heitkamp, and Joe Donnelly.[22] Under fire since his appointment, Pruitt announced on July 5, 2018, he would be resigning effective July 6th. He left Wheeler as the acting head of the agency.[9] Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders said he was "vigorously opposed" to Wheeler replacing Pruitt, adding, "We need an EPA administrator -- and I know this is a radical idea -- that actually believes in environmental protection, rather than just the profits of the oil, gas or coal industry."[23]

References

  1. ^ A brief guide to Andrew Wheeler, Scott Pruitt’s replacement at the EPA
  2. ^ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "EPA's Deputy Administrator". Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d Wolff, Eric (May 5, 2018). "Pruitt's replacement 'should scare anyone who breathes'". Politico (updated July 5, 2018). Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  4. ^ a b c Mufson, Steven (July 5, 2018). "Scott Pruitt's likely successor has long lobbying history on issues before the EPA". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  5. ^ Farrick, Ryan J. (July 26, 2017). "Trump Nominates Coal Industry Lobbyist Andrew Wheeler To Help Run EPA". Legal Reader. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Friedman, Lisa (October 5, 2017). "Trump Nominates a Coal Lobbyist to Be No. 2 at E.P.A." New York Times. Retrieved 6 October 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b "PN1084 — Andrew Wheeler — Environmental Protection Agency (115th Congress, 2017-2018)". U.S. Senate. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  8. ^ a b Mufson, Steven; Dennis, Brady; Grandoni, Dino (April 12, 2018). "Senate confirms a former coal lobbyist as Scott Pruitt’s second-in-command at EPA". Washington Post. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Scott Pruitt resigns as EPA head, Boston Globe, July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Friedman, Lisa (2008). The Almanac of the Unelected: Staff of the U.S. Congress 2008. Bernan Press. p. 614. ISBN 9781598882988.
  11. ^ "Case Western Reserve University Alumni Graduates of 1987". Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Class Notes 1990" (PDF). Washington university law magazine. 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  13. ^ Friedman, Lisa (2008). The Almanac of the Unelected: Staff of the U.S. Congress. Bernan Press. p. 614. ISBN 978-1598881844.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Andrew R. Wheeler". Faegre Baker Daniels. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Sources:Trump expected to tap Wheeler as EPA deputy". Politico. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  16. ^ "Trump to name coal lobbyist as deputy EPA chief: report". The Hill. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Trump to tap longtime coal lobbyist for EPA's No. 2 spot". The Washington Post. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  18. ^ Friedman, Lisa (2017-10-05). "Trump Nominates a Coal Lobbyist to Be No. 2 at E.P.A." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  19. ^ "Reports: Trump to nominate coal lobbyist Wheeler to deputy EPA slot". UtilityDive. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  20. ^ "NERO Officers 2015 - 2016". National Energy Resources Organization. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  21. ^ "Coal Lobbyist Could Be Next EPA Deputy Administrator". EcoWatch. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  22. ^ Senate confirms a former coal lobbyist as Scott Pruitt's second-in-command at EPA, Washington Post, Steven Mufson, Brady Dennis & Dino Grandoni, April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  23. ^ Senator Bernie Sanders: Pruitt's replacement is just as bad on the environment, CNN, Annie Geng, July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by Deputy Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
2018–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Acting
Taking office 2018 		Designate


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andrew_R._Wheeler&oldid=849196901"