Bush Puts Policy Allies in Cabinet PostsUS President-elect George W. Bush moved a big step closer to completing his cabinet on Friday, nominating four strong backers of the "compassionate conservative'' agenda he advocated during his campaign.Bush said he had chosen Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson as his secretary of health and human services, Houston schools superintendent Rod Paige as his education secretary, former Colorado attorney general Gale Norton to run the Interior Department, and former deputy secretary of veterans affairs Anthony Principi as secretary of that department. The choices bring support for policies including welfare reform, voucher-type programs for schools and greater local control on environmental issues. Thompson is also known for his opposition to abortion. "It is with great pride that I announce these four candidates today," Bush, who will be inaugurated as the 43rd U.S. president on Jan. 20, told a news conference at his transition headquarters. Bush has now chosen 12 of the 15 people he expects to have in his Cabinet. He has yet to nominate secretaries of energy, transportation and labor. Bush said on Thursday he hoped to announce all his Cabinet choices by the end of next week. He headed back to Texas for the New Year's holiday after Friday's news conference, and no fresh nominations were expected until Wednesday. A Diverse Bush Cabinet With the nominations of Paige, who is black, and Norton, Colorado's first woman attorney general, Bush continued to make good on his pledge to recruit a diverse Cabinet. Bush had previously nominated Cuban-born Mel Martinez to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development; retired Gen. Colin Powell, who is black, to be secretary of state; and Ann Veneman, a woman, to lead the Agriculture Department. He has also selected foreign policy aide Condoleezza Rice, who is black, as his national security adviser. Still, the Republican president-elect appears to be having difficulty attracting a high-ranking Democrat to his top team, something he has said he wanted to do. Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush remains hopeful of meeting that goal. Thompson made a name for himself in Wisconsin as a pragmatic conservative who promoted welfare-to-work programs and won four terms of office. His nomination drew praise from anti-abortion groups and scorn from abortion-rights groups. "Thompson opposes a woman's fundamental right to choose and has a track record of policy actions that limit access to the full range of reproductive health care services,'' said Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The National Right to Life Committee said it was pleased with the Thompson's appointment, noting he had signed "numerous pro-life bills into law." Bush called Thompson a leader and innovator. "Real welfare reform began in Wisconsin," he said. Thompson outlined his interests as welfare reform, health care reform, long-term care for seniors, greater opportunities for the disabled, the advancement of science and helping the working poor. "I am absolutely passionate about these issues," Thompson told the news conference. Schools Held Accountable Paige has headed the U.S.' seventh-largest school district since 1994. He implemented a school accountability system that closely mirrors Bush's philosophy by allowing children in failing schools to attend private schools at the district's expense. He also implemented online education programs. "When we set high standards for our schools and our children and when we give our schools and our children the support they need and hold them accountable for results, public education can get the job done,'' Paige said. Bush followed tradition in looking West for his Interior Secretary, who will oversee vast federal land holdings located primarily west of the Mississippi River. The job often pits environmentalists against farmers, ranchers and mining companies in determining how the federal lands will be used. "We will find ways to develop our nations' resources in a balanced and an environmentally friendly way," Bush said. Asked whether she supported Bush's call to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration and drilling, Norton declined to comment directly ahead of her confirmation, but said she supported Bush's campaign positions. Norton served as Colorado's attorney general from 1991-1999. A pro-choice Republican, she advocates a free-market, local-control philosophy on environmental and economic issues, and has favored corporate self-policing of environmental regulations. In a 1998 Earth Day speech, she noted, ``the Environmental Protection Agency hates our approach.'' Concern For Alaska Refuge A top U.S. environmental leader expressed concern that Norton would help Bush open the Alaska refuge and questioned her past ties to the Mountain States Legal Foundation, which has fought legal battles against environmental protections. "It is very important that the secretary of interior be a spokesman for land conservation, and we're hopeful that that's a task she is willing to undertake and accomplish,'' William Meadows, president of the Wilderness Society, said in a phone interview with Reuters. Principi, a combat-decorated Vietnam War veteran, served as deputy secretary of veterans affairs in the administration of Bush's father, former President George Bush. Bush said Principi would work to carry out Bush campaign pledges to overhaul the veterans health care system, speeding up paperwork processing and working to reverse a 1999 court ruling preventing the Veterans Administration from helping establish disability claims. (Agencies) |
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