(Interesting story here... who would they replace Vilsack with at USDA? Somebody worse? The one thing I can say in his favor is that he is VERY closely aligned with Obama on food/ag policy (pro-ethanol, pro-packer ban, pro-GMO, etc). Is there someone else like him that Obama could pick? - promoted by Jill Richardson)
Obviously no need to recap the whole Vilsack story, but...late today the New York Daily News is reporting that Secretary of Agriculture nominee Tom Vilsack may instead become the nominee for Secretary of Commerce in Obama's cabinet. Ken Bazinet breaks the story on the NYDN blog The Mouth of The Potomac, and credits "a well placed source." Yesterday, Obama's first choice for commerce secretary, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, stepped down, citing a "pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state," according to Bloomberg News. As Obama scrambles to have an economic stimulus package in place on Day 1 after The Inauguration, an absent Secretary of Commerce is a huge problem. Tossing Vilsack into the commerce position makes sense; his economic policies while governor were almost as good as his ag policies were questionable.
In other Vilsack news, his confirmation hearing for Ag Secretary was announced today. According to Iowa's The Gazette, the hearing will take place January 14, with Senator Tom Harkin, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee at the helm. But will the hearing be for Secretary of Commerce, or Secretary of Agriculture? Harkin told AP that Vilsack's confirmation would be "easy," but just last week he was blasting Obama for "ignoring" current Ag Committee members. |
