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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2001

Democrats in the Senate say two of President Bush's nominees are in danger of not being confirmed while others face significant battles.

Environmental Protection Agency nominee Donald Schregardus is already being held back by Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). Adding to the delay is a new investigation being undertaken by the Environment and Public Works Committee into Schregardus' environmental record in Ohio.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Relations Committee is supposed to hold a hearing for Otto J. Reich to a position in the State Department. But sources say the committee is not likely to schedule one based on Reich's history with Nicaraguan contras.

Other Bush nominees facing battles include Thomas C. Dorr for undersecretary at the Agriculture Department; Thomas Sansonetti as assistant attorney general for natural resources at the Department of Justice; and Eugene Scalia as solicitor for the Labor Department. Potentially troublesome judicial nominees are Jeffrey S. Sutton for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and Miguel Estrada and John Roberts Jr., both to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Justice sources told Indianz.Com they have been frustrated with little action on Sansonetti's confirmation. If confirmed, he would oversee the Cobell v. Norton trust fund ligitation and a number of cases affecting trust responsibilities.

Of Bush's set of appeals court nominees, Roberts has the most ties to Indian law. He won the Venetie case against Alaska Native villages and lost the Rice v. Cayetano Native Hawaiian case.

Get the Story:
Senate Democrats Say Nominees Could Lose Confirmation Battles (The Washington Post 9/6)

Related Stories:
EPA nominee being held back (8/21)
Bush nominee familiar with Indian law (5/9)
Trust fund defense to get new attorney (4/4)