Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) political influence hung over the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the two nominations to fill the vacancies at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission yesterday, as Republicans called into question whether the two nominees were Reid’s political pawns or independent regulators. The Republicans, led by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), cited a recent article in Politco chronicling Reid’s long-time interest in the NRC, especially with regards to Yucca Mountain, as evidence of the political tilt of the two nominees. “We need to maintain a full, qualified slate of commissioners who continue to protect our communities by assuring nuclear safety,” Barrasso said. “That is best achieved by having experienced commissioners who aren’t removed and called names on the Senate floor because they don’t share the majority leader narrow political agenda.”
EPW Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) retorted back that any Majority Leader would show an interest in the nomination process. “I don’t think it comes as a big surprise that a majority leader of the majority party is interested in this,” Boxer said. “You can go all the way back to the original majority leaders. Why are they interested? Because they set the agenda, and if they feel uncomfortable with a nomination, it is uncomfortable for them. I just want to say whether Mitch McConnell was the majority leader, or Harry Reid, or Bob Dole, they all cared about who the commissioners are. It is not a big surprise. Majority leaders care.”
The two nominees, Stephen Burns and Jeff Baran, meanwhile, maintained to the Committee that they would serve as independent regulators to protect public safety. The Obama Administration in July nominated Burns and Baran to fill the open spots on the NRC. Burns previously worked for the NRC, rising to General Counsel under then-Chairman Gregory Jaczko, but left in 2012 for a position with the Nuclear Energy Agency. Baran served as an aide to House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) while also serving as Democratic staff director for the Energy and Environment Subcommittee. Boxer indicated that there would be a quick turn around on the two nominations following the hearing, with a vote scheduled for Thursday.
