Obama's pick for EPA No. 2 withdraws

[The Straight Story]

Obama's pick for EPA No. 2 withdraws

By DINA CAPPIELLO – 27 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's pick for the No. 2 post at the Environmental Protection Agency abruptly removed himself from consideration Wednesday, saying the controversy surrounding a foundation he once belonged to would distract from the agency's work.

Jon Cannon, a professor of environmental law at the University of Virginia and the former top EPA lawyer, said he was withdrawing as the nominee for deputy EPA administrator because the nonprofit America's Clean Water Foundation had become the subject of scrutiny. Cannon once served on the now-defunct organization's board of directors.

The EPA's inspector general concluded in 2007 that the foundation mismanaged $25 million in EPA grants that it had received to help identify environmental risks on farms and to assist states and tribes in complying with water pollution laws. The report found that the foundation could not properly account for the money it had been granted.

Cannon's confirmation hearing had been scheduled for Thursday before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gC9Gl5LLyMqxOjgzZhti45k1OzHQD975AO380

[aquart]

1. I'll the twelve disciples couldn't pass vetting either.

We're getting a little silly here.

[Thrill]

2. The media's gotcha bs with Obama is scaring good people away

.