‘Fish or cut bait’
recovers and returns to the Senate, it’s not clear whether he supports Bridenstine’s nomination. The Tulsa congressman has previously backed one of McCain’s political opponents.
“I’m not sure how he would vote but we’ve got to have one more vote,” Inhofe said. “If something happens where he would either return or resign and they can appoint somebody else, that would make a difference.”
Meanwhile, Bridenstine’s colleagues on the House Science Committee are frustrated that Robert Lightfoot — the longest acting administrator in NASA history — remains in what should be a temporary job after 13 months.
“This is the product of a couple of senators who are bullheaded and a couple of senators who are basically watching out for their own little domain rather than what’s good for the overall country,” said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., without naming names during a committee hearing Wednesday.
Rep. Frank Lucas, a Cheyenne Republican and a leading contender to chair the Science Committee next year, said it is “critically important” for NASA to have a Senateapproved administrator. In remarks to E&E News after the committee hearing, Lucas said the Senate should confirm Bridenstine or move on to another candidate.
“I would hope whatever the circumstances are in the United States Senate, at some point we’ll decide the future of NASA’s importance — either confirm this guy or get a new guy,” Lucas said.
Another committee member and Bridenstine backer, Democratic Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, said time is running out on Bridenstine’s nomination.
“The challenge that you have anywhere where you have acting directors, you’re not going to get the leadership, the risk-taking, the culture-changing stuff that you’re going to get with a person who is actually in charge. So, at a certain point, the Senate has to fish or cut bait, tell Jim he’s not getting it or move on,” Beyer told E&E.
How long the president will wait before cutting bait is unclear. Inhofe said Trump still supports Bridenstine.
“He didn’t tell me this but I believe the president is standing back now and saying, ‘Well, let’s wait’ and giving him a chance to get confirmed before he appoints somebody else,” Inhofe said.