"Professor Graham is certainly aware of what the Public Citizen report contained and he is very much looking forward to presenting a balanced picture of his beliefs and his credentials to the Senate and the public," Ullman says. "The report is inaccurate in a variety of places and is very selective in the information it presents."

According to Ullman, Graham is meeting with senators and preparing extensive materials for his impending confirmation hearings.

If confirmed, Graham would have review powers over regulations proposed by federal agencies as the head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

BF: The Risk of Politics

Many of Graham's supporters say the controversy surrounding his record and the HCRA's funding sources is just a way that his critics are trying to hold up his nomination.

They say the critics are more interested in portraying the Bush administration as anti-environment than in ensuring good science.

"Some of John's findings have been challenging to people in the environmental community," says Ropeik. "They are using the money issue to speak to the larger disagreement they really have."