WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today sent the nomination of Gale Norton as Secretary of the Interior to the full Senate for approval. Ms. Norton’s nomination hearing was held by the Committee last week. Today’s roll call vote was 18 to 2.
Chairman Frank H. Murkowski said he was pleased with the outcome. “I congratulate Ms. Norton on her approval by this Committee. She handled herself well during our hearing last week and addressed the criticism leveled at her by outside special interest groups. I think these groups went overboard with their rancorous and misleading attacks on her, and they have truly hurt their credibility,” said Murkowski. The full Senate is expected to vote on Norton’s nomination shortly.
For today’s vote, Republican Committee members from the 106th Congress voted, and Democratic Committee members from the 107th Congress voted.
Roll Call Vote:
REPUBLICANS:
Chairman Frank H. Murkowski, (Alaska) – Aye
Pete V. Domenici, (N.M.) – Aye
Don Nickles (Okla.) – Aye
Larry Craig (Idaho) – Aye
Gordon Smith (Ore.) – Aye
Jim Bunning (Ky.) – Aye
Peter G. Fitzgerald (Ill.) – Aye
Conrad Burns (Mont.) – Aye
Craig Thomas (Wyo.) – Aye
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Colo.) – Aye
DEMOCRATS:
Jeff Bingaman (N.M.) – Aye
Daniel K. Akaka (Hawaii) – Aye
Byron L. Dorgan (N.D.) – Aye
Bob Graham (Fla.) – Aye
Ron Wyden (Ore.) – No
Mary Landrieu (La.) – Aye
Evan Bayh (Ind.) – Aye
Diane Feinstein (Calif.) – Aye
Maria Cantwell (Wash.) – Aye
Charles Schumer (N.Y.) – No