NC Senate Nixes Environment Chief, But Cooper Rehires Her

The North Carolina Senate has formally rejected Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s choice to lead his environment department. But Cooper quickly rehired Dionne Delli-Gatti after Thursday's party-line vote to be his point person on clean energy.  Still, the refusal marks the first time a Cabinet appointment by a North Carolina governor has received a no-confirmation result since the advice-and-consent law for the Senate began as Cooper took office in 2017. Senate Republicans said that Delli-Gatti’s lack of insight on the governor’s natural gas policy and permitting for a proposed pipeline disqualified her. Cooper and Senate Democrats argued her dismissal was based on politics, not merit.