The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the nomination of Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt (R) to head the Environmental Protection Agency, two weeks after panel Democrats delayed the vote because of opposition to White House environmental policies. But some Senate Democrats have "holds" on Leavitt's nomination, blocking a floor vote.
The committee vote on Oct. 15 was 16-2, with Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.) casting the dissenting votes.