Senate Republicans chastised Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) yesterday during a Nuclear Regulatory Commission oversight hearing for pushing the re-nomination of Commissioner Jeffrey Baran through committee without a hearing. Baran moved through the committee earlier this week on a 10-8 party line vote, despite Republican protests. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) echoed his previous sentiments against Baran and his lack of nuclear experience. “There is no precedent for disregarding the importance of making sure each member of the NRC is qualified for the exact position and term for which they have been nominated,” Vitter said in his opening statement. He added, “The bottom line is that no nominee, including Baran, should be given a free pass into office based solely on the merits of being handpicked by Majority Leader Harry Reid. Ensuring our commissioners are well-qualified and that the NRC is conducting business in a fact-based and ethical manner are crucial to the health, reliability, and safety of our nuclear fleet.”
Boxer said she found the Republican outcry to be “ridiculous” later in the hearing. She countered the argument of Baran’s inexperience by citing Commissioner Kristine Svinicki’s lack of experience when she became a commissioner. “This outrage over appointing commissioners who worked as congressional staffers is really ridiculous,” Boxer said. “When, in fact, not one Republican ever complained, nor one Democrat, about Commissioner Svinicki.” President Barrack Obama nominated Baran to serve the remaining years left on departing NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane’s tenure, which would expire in June 2018. A vote on Baran’s nomination by the full Senate is expected today.
