OnPolitics Today: Pesticides in your drinking water? Meet a Trump EPA pick

Josh Hafner , Josh Hafner | Paste BN

Like high levels of pesticides in your drinking water? Talk it over with President Trump's pollution prevention nominee.

A narrow vote Wednesday placed a Cincinnati toxicologist closer to becoming the White House's top environmental regulator. Michael Dourson conducted research funded partly by the chemical industry that endorsed high levels of chemicals and pesticides in drinking water, leading to accusations from Democrats and environmentalists that he was engaging in "fake pseudo-science."

But while Democrats called Dourson "troubling," Republicans on the committee didn't address criticism of his record. Instead, they called him, as well as other nominees pushed forward, "well-qualified, experienced, and dedicated public servants." In the end, it came down to an 11-to-10 party-line vote.

Can't wait for Dourson to get into action? No worries: He's already a top EPA adviser.

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