The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources heard testimony from President-elect Trump's nominee for energy secretary, former Texas governor Rick Perry, Jan. 19. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)The Senate voted 62 to 37 Thursday afternoon to confirm former Texas governor Rick Perry as energy secretary, brushing aside Perry’s onetime vow to abolish the department. As Texas governor, Perry presided over a boom in all kinds of energy production, including wind power and shale drilling. [Rick Perry expresses ‘regret’ for pledging to abolish Energy Department]It is something of a surprise landing for Perry, who ran for president in 2012 and 2016 with dismal results. Most of its budget goes to maintaining the nuclear weapons stockpile and cleaning up an old weapons site in Hanford, Wash.

Source: Washington Post March 02, 2017 19:13 UTC