Two weeks ago, Democrats staged a first-in-history boycott of Inhofe's committee to prevent achieving a legal quorum needed to vote on Leavitt. Since then, Leavitt gave more complete responses to written questions that Democrats complained he had not answered sufficiently.

Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., ranking minority member on the committee, said that was enough to move Leavitt out of committee but warned that he and Democrats feel "additional information is still needed" from the Bush administration to address their environmental concerns before they will support final confirmation.

"This administration has a pattern of not providing information to Congress. Their delivery has been about as reliable as (struggling New York Yankees pitcher) Mike Mussina's in the American League Championship Series," he said.

Still, only two committee Democrats voted against Leavitt Wednesday: presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who both previously placed holds on Leavitt. Also, Boxer abstained as she announced her new hold against him.

Boxer issued a statement saying that Leavitt's expanded answers to questions "were still nonresponsive and evasive." So, she said, "I am placing a hold on this nomination until I get my questions answered so that I can make an informed decision on this nominee."

Lieberman voted against Leavitt, saying he worries he will not be independent enough from what he says is an anti-environment White House. Clinton praised Leavitt personally but said she is still upset the White House had not better explained why it said dust after the 9/11 attacks in New York was safe when EPA data did not back that.

Holds have also been placed by presidential candidates Sens. John Edwards, D-N.C., and John Kerry, D-Mass. Edwards wants studies about the effects of Bush changes to the Clean Air Act, and Kerry wants guarantees for cleanup of a toxic-waste site in his state.

While most such holds could in theory be resolved, Lautenberg's new hold comes because he says Leavitt is simply a bad nominee who should be blocked, which leaves little room for negotiation or dealmaking.

Lautenberg, who is not a member of the committee, issued a release calling Leavitt's record abysmal, saying Leavitt "believes environmental laws can be ignored with impunity by industries that pollute and poison the environment."

Meanwhile, most committee Democrats, even while attacking Bush, did praise Leavitt's own record and skills. For example, Sens. Bob Graham, D-Fla., and Thomas Carper, D-Del., who are both former governors, said their experience in working with Leavitt shows him to be bipartisan and a consensus builder.

Meanwhile, Republicans complained Democrats were holding Leavitt hostage only to seek political points in the presidential election.

"This nomination has become a proxy fight over the Bush administration's environ-

mental record," Inhofe said. "It's wrong that the presidential ambitions of a few senators could sacrifice a nominee with a proven record of environmental accomplishments."

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said, "Gov. Leavitt and the able men and women at the EPA that he will soon lead deserve better than this political blackmail."

For his part, Leavitt said he is looking at another trip to Washington to meet with critics to try to calm concerns. He also thanked the committee for its vote. "It is gratifying that it had strong and bipartisan support," he said.

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