We want Gina! We want Gina! And we want her now!

Gina McCarthy has been nominated by President Obama to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). McCarthy would make an excellent administrator for oh so many reasons, but she hasn't yet been confirmed. What's going on?

McCarthy certainly has the street cred for the role. Since 2009 she has served as assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. (We like to think of her as our favorite air head.)

In more than 25 years in state and federal government, she has earned the trust of environmentalists and business leaders for being fair and competent. Before going federal four years ago, Gina was climate and energy advisor to Gov. Romney in Massachusetts (yes, that Romney).

McCarthy came to PennFuture's attention in 2004 as we worked to get Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, which requires increasing amounts of clean electricity to be produced in Pennsylvania — translating to a smaller carbon footprint, passed. At that time, McCarthy was Connecticut's secretary of environmental protection, working for Republican Gov. Jodi Rell. We could see then that McCarthy knew how to get good stuff done, no matter which party she was working with.

So why hasn't McCarthy been confirmed? Partisan politics as usual, we fear. Her hearing process in the Senate Environment and Public Works committee was made a sham by the Republicans. They required her to answer, in writing, more than 1,100 questions — ridiculous by any standard. And then they chose to boycott her first committee vote on May 9. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and the R's showed up on May 16 for the next vote. McCarthy won committee endorsement along straight party lines.

But still she needs to be confirmed by the full Senate. What's the hold up? Apparently Harry Reid isn't sure she can get the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Sen. Bob Casey has indicated he'll vote for her. Senator Toomey? Not so much. Why doesn't Pat Toomey care about clean air? What exactly could be more important than our children's health? Hrmph.

Come on, Senate. It's time to confirm Gina McCarthy to head the EPA. The country badly needs her.