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Obama reportedly taps Solis for labor, among other picks

Posted by Jason Tuohey December 18, 2008 05:28 PM

Another day, another report of a new member for Barack Obama's Cabinet.

This time, it's California Representative Hilda Solis, whom the president-elect will appoint as secretary of labor, according to the Associated Press.

solis.jpg
Hilda Solis (AP)

Solis, the daughter of Mexican and Nicaraguan immigrants, has focused on access to affordable healthcare, protecting the environment, and helping working families while in Washington, according to her website.

In what is becoming a growing trend among Obama appointees, Solis has also been active on green initiatives. She sponsored the Green Jobs Act of 2007, which authorized $125 million to train workers for environmentally minded jobs such as installing solar panels and construction of energy efficient buildings.

Solis wasn't the only new name floated around today. Obama plans to pick former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk as US trade representative, the Associated Press reports.

The Globe learned that Harvard physicist John Holdren, a leading authority on global warming, will be Obama's science adviser.

And finally, retired Admiral Dennis Blair will be tapped as the top US intellgence official, according to Reuters.

UPDATE: Obama tomorrow will announce US Representative Ray LaHood, a Republican from his home state of Illinois, as his nominee for secretary of transportation, according to a Democratic official with knowledge of the plans. LaHood is perhaps best known for presiding over the impeachment of former president Bill Clinton. He is retiring from Congress this year after serving seven terms.

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Great!
The child of illegal aliens will be responsible for overseeing our illegal alien workforce.
What's next?
Osama Bin Laden in charge of national security?
Surely out of 300 million people, we have someone more qualified than this.
How did we ever get to this point?

Posted by IwannaBailoutToo December 18, 08 06:29 PM
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We are all descended from immigrants. I have never heard my ancestors called illegal aliens, but I suppose the Native Americans may have viewed them as such. They arrived here uninvited, competed with the Native Americans for available resources, and generally despoiled the landscape. I am personally pleased that President Elect Obama is making some wide ranging choices for the cabinet. In the not too distant past, they seemed to all be male WASPs from the establishment. I think that the incoming cabinet will be more representative of the general population.

Posted by FredinVicksburg December 19, 08 12:49 AM
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The article does not mention that her parents came to this country illegaly. Nonetheless, her residency status has nothing to do with her credentials.

Posted by GObama December 19, 08 01:13 AM
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Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.

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