washington senate committee suspend rule thursday approve u.s. president donald trump controversial choice lead environmental protection agency thursday amid boycott nomination panel democratic members john barrasso chair senate environment public work committee say panel would suspend several rule temporarily approve nomination oklahoma attorney general scott pruitt epa administrator democrats committee boycott wednesday meet approve pruitt say doubt science climate change many conflict interest company would charge regulate full senate vote pruitt nomination date yet confirm republicans hold majority senate nomination likely approve barrasso justify move say pruitt sue epa 14 time oklahoma top attorney reflect agenda president 2016 election elections consequences new president entitle put place people advance agenda say environmental group strongly criticize choice pruitt raise concern nomination push full senate approve full senate start day one bad epa administrator history say ken cook president environmental work group senate panel advance trump epa chief pick democrats boycott