LINDA DASCHLE Article (Obama Wanting Husband - Former Senator Thomas Daschle - For Secretary Of Department of Health)

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Sources: Napolitano top choice for homeland security secretary � Story Highlights � Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano top choice for homeland security � Ex-Sen. Tom Daschle to become head of HHS, sources say � More than half of those named to Obama's transition or staff posts have Clinton ties � Transition team says it's dedicated to creating team that's "diverse in many ways"

(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama's top choice for secretary of homeland security is Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, multiple Democratic sources close to the transition told CNN on condition of anonymity.

One source said he believed the final decision depends on the vetting of the Democratic governor, much like the selection of Eric Holder for attorney general.

Also, multiple Democratic sources say billionaire Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker is Obama's choice for commerce secretary.Pritzker ran Obama's record-breaking fundraising effort, serving as the campaign's finance chair.

The sources say she will accept the job, which would be formally offered after vetting is complete. But whether the rigors of the Obama vetting process will present a challenge to a business person with no record in public office -- and presumably extensive financial holdings -- was unknown. See whose names are emerging »

Obama met last week with Sen. Hillary Clinton to discuss the possibility of her serving as secretary of state. The Obama team is also vetting her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who has made several concessions in moving the process along. Sen. Clinton'sresponse is expected this week. Watch how Obama's team wants to avoid 'distractions' »

However, a Democratic official said Wednesday that Senate leadership is considering a new role for Sen. Clinton should she decide to remain in the Senate.

Also Wednesday, three sources close to the transition said Obama has chosen former Sen. Tom Daschle to be Secretary of Health andHuman Services, and the former Senate majority leader has indicated he wants the job. Watch how Obama's Cabinet will have ties to lobbyists »

The sources said that Daschle negotiated that he will also serve as the White House health "czar," or point person, so that he will report directly to the incoming president.

By wearing two hats, Daschle -- not White House staffers -- will be writing the health care plan that Obama submits to Congress next year.

The sources said the timing of the announcement has not been worked out, but Daschle is likely to join the Obama transition team as the lead adviser on health issues in the next few weeks. Watch what the Daschle pick could mean »

An Obama transition official would not comment.

Daschle is currently billed as a "special public policy adviser" in the Washington office of the law firm Alston & Bird.

He is not a federally registered lobbyist, but his wife, Linda Daschle, is a registered lobbyist at the firm Baker Donelson, which has clients in health-related fields.

Critics question whether Obama's top staff picks so far represent the "change" that he promised during the campaign. iReport.com: Who would you choose for Obama's cabinet?

More than half of the people named to Obama's transition or staff posts have ties to President Clinton's administration.

Page 1 of 2Sources: Napolitano top choice for homeland security secretary - CNN.com

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Also Wednesday, three sources close to the transition said Obama has chosen former Sen. Tom Daschle to be Secretary of Health andHuman Services, and the former Senate majority leader has indicated he wants the job.

The sources said that Daschle negotiated that he will also serve as the White House health "czar," or point person, so that he will reportdirectly to the incoming president.

By wearing two hats, Daschle -- not White House staffers -- will be writing the health care plan that Obama submits to Congress next year.

The sources said the timing of the announcement has not been worked out, but Daschle is likely to join the Obama transition team as thelead adviser on health issues in the next few weeks.

An Obama transition official would not comment.

Daschle is currently billed as a "special public policy adviser" in the Washington office of the law firm Alston & Bird.

He is not a federally registered lobbyist, but his wife, Linda Daschle, is a registered lobbyist at the firm Baker Donelson, which has clients in health-related fields.

Critics question whether Obama's top staff picks so far represent the "change"ff that he promised during the campaign. i

More than half of the people named to Obama's transition or staff posts have ties to President Clinton's administration.

© 2008 Cable News Network

In addition to Sen. Clinton and incoming White Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who is a former top aide to President Clinton, Eric Holder and Peter Orszag also have Clinton ties.

Holder, who is expected to be named attorney general, served as Clinton's deputy attorney general. Orszag, who will reportedly head the Office of Budget and Management, was Clinton's special assistant at the National Economic Council and served on the Council of Economic Advisers.

The Clinton-heavy team has caused Republicans to question Obama's call for change. Watch analysts weigh in on Obama's staff picks »

"I think several individuals are very frustrated to think that President-elect Obama may just cut and paste from some of the Democratic operatives from the Clinton administration and put them into his White House," said Leslie Sanchez, a Republican strategist and CNN contributor.

Republicans aren't the only ones who want Obama to branch out. Robert Kuttner, a liberal and author of "Obama's Challenge," says the president-elect should broaden his recruiting efforts.

"It's not as if the only competent people who ever served in government or who are capable of serving in government are veterans of the Clinton administration, so he's got to be careful how many Clintonistas he appoints to top level government posts," Kuttner said.

Before Clinton, however, Democrats had not been in the White House since Jimmy Carter, and many of those in Carter's administration are too old to serve again under Obama.

The Obama transition team said in a statement that they are dedicated to building a well-rounded administration.

"President-elect Obama is committed to putting together a competent team that is diverse in many ways, including experience. Serving in high level positions whether in government, in the private sector or in public service is seen as a positive," spokesman Nick Shapiro said.

CNN's Gloria Borger, Jason Carrol, Ed Henry, Jamie McIntyre, John King and Jessica Yellin contributed to this report.

All AboutBarack Obama • Bill Clinton

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Close WindowHartford Looks to Hire Former Congresscritter Nancy Johnson as Its Washington DC Lobbyistby: ken_krayeske Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:30:27 PM EST

(Oh my... - promoted by ctblogger)

Cross-posted from the40yearplan.com

Former Congresswoman Nancy Johnson couldn't win enough votes in Connecticut's Fifth Congressional District to secure re-election in 2006.

Come Monday, January 12, Johnson needs only five votes in Hartford's Court of Common Council to win a $13,000 a month, six month lobbying contract for her new employer, the Tennessee law/lobbying firm of Baker Donelson.

That's more than $65,000 from January to June 2009, with an option to renew for another six months, to lobby for Hartford's wish list of $50 million for levee repair, and a few million more for a new public safety complex.

The city put the federal lobbying contract out to bid, and Mayor Eddie Perez's chief of staff Matt Hennessey and former mayoral aide Derek Donnelly winnowed the responses down to five finalists based on price, experience and other factors, according to City Councilman Matt Ritter.

Ritter and Council President Calixto Torres helped Hennessey and Donnelly, who was recently laid off, interview the five finalists. Baker Donelson gave the best presentation, Ritter said.

"Nancy Johnson was in the interview, but she was not the lead presenter," Ritter said. "She had three other people with her. She talked about what she does, more health care and things like that."

If Johnson will not lead Baker Donelson's team of former Congressional staffers to lobby for Hartford, why does her mug grace page one of Baker Donelson's proposal? Ritter acknowledges may be a misplay on their part.

"It's probably because she is from Connecticut," he said. But the voters of Connecticut showed her the door, and votedin Chris Murphy, whose father is Ritter's boss at the Hartford law firm of Shipman and Goodwin.

Baker Donelson won because it has expertise in environmental issues, which would help with the levee, Ritter said. Nor does Baker Donelson represent a lot of other cities.

Even still Ritter does not know if Johnson's lobbying proposal will pass

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Even still, Ritter does not know if Johnson s lobbying proposal will pass.

"I don't know if we will have five votes," Ritter said. "It is a gamble. The fee is not contingent on them giving you success. They may not be able to get you success. I think it is a calculated risk worth taking now."

Councilman Luis Cotto doubts the need for such a $13,000 a month roll of the dice.

"That is hard pill to swallow," Cotto said. "$13,000 a month is more than I make a year. There is no guarantee. What has been our track record with lobbyists? Maybe we are wasting our money."

The $13,000 comes from a letter to the City, Cotto said. Baker Donelson's September 16, 2008 proposal calls for an $18,000 a month fee.

If it brings home $50 million, Cotto said it is probably worth it. But hiring a lobbyist begs the question - isn't this what Hartford elected Congressman John Larson to do? After all, Larson sits as one of the five most powerful Dems in the House of Representatives.

"This resolution speaks to the fact that municipalities have to compete with other municipalities," Cotto said. "It's not as simple as don't pay and yippee yiyay, Larson will get us some money."

Many constituent groups peddle different visions of Hartford to Larson, and he also has to address the needs of East Hartford, West Hartford and the rest of his district, Ritter said.

"Hartford needs to do well in this stimulus package," Ritter said of President-elect Obama's proposed trillion dollar infrastructure and economic rejuvenation bill.

"John Larson is a dear family friend, and a great Congressman for our district," Ritter said. Larson has spent time on the Capewell project, and sees that as key to Hartford's future, Ritter said.

"But he can't do everything, and it is unfair for him to do everything for us," Ritter said. "That is the decision we have to make on Monday night."

But Baker Donelson's proposal doesn't inspire much confidence. Baker Donelson is historically a Republican firm. Howard Baker, the former Tennessee Senator and one-time Chief of Staff for Ronald Reagan, is the grandson of the firm's namesake. Baker, at 83 years young, is listed in an "of counsel" capacity in the firm's materials.

The Baker Donelson proposal advertises the presence of Linda Daschle, the wife of Tom Daschle, Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Linda Daschle resigned from Baker Donelson around November 18, and Baker Donelson's website has scrubbed any references to her.

Considering that this is a Democratic Congress, Ritter said he thought Daschle's departure doomed Baker Donelson, leaving it without a heavy-hitting Democrat.

"We took them off the list," Ritter said. "But according to Derek Donnelly, they have assured the city, they are hiring another major Democrat to take Linda Daschle's spot. That comforted Matt and Derek enough to go for Baker Donelson."

Big lobbying firms in Washington understand how the game is played, Ritter said, and they know they need to bring in another Democrat.

The rest of the Baker Donelson's RFP reads like boilerplate slag from the firm's website, and not just the Public Policysection directed at Hartford.

The RFP runs through pages of Baker Donelson's commitment to diversity, its Women's Initiative, and a six-page newsletter on the Federal Gulf Coast Reconstruction Bulletin, Baker Donelson's post-Katrina contract.

None of which immediately impacts Hartford. The parts of the RFP directed to Hartford should give any takers pause. For example, in the general work plan, it says Baker Donelson will "Invite key agency officials to take firsthand tours of pressing needs in the county." County? Connecticut doesn't have a county system of government, and why is Hartford paying to support the interests of suburbs?

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The Baker Donelson proposal advertises the presence of Linda Daschle, the wife of Tom Daschle, Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Linda Daschle resigned from Baker Donelson around November 18, and Baker Donelson's website has scrubbed any references to her.

Considering that this is a Democratic Congress, Ritter said he thought Daschle's departure doomed Baker Donelson,leaving it without a heavy-hitting Democrat.

"We took them off the list," Ritter said. "But according to Derek Donnelly, they have assured the city, they are hiring another major Democrat to take Linda Daschle's spot. That comforted Matt and Derek enough to go for Baker Donelson."

Big lobbying firms in Washington understand how the game is played, Ritter said, and they know they need to bring in another Democrat.

Hartford isn't. This is just a sloppy presentation. Considering that Baker Donelson's other clients ante up anywhere from $20,000 to $900,000, according to OpenSecrets.org, one might expect better.

Baker Donelson's general work plan for Hartford gives no insight into Eddie Perez's vision for the remainder of his term, rather, the plan provides insight into what Baker Donelson imagined it could extract from the federal government for a prospective client in a pre-Obama world.

The response doesn't talk about environmental hurdles to rebuilding levees or how a new public safety complex would help to fight crime. Instead, Baker Donelson focuses on transportation dollars from SAFETEALU - the $300 billion pork barrell surface transportation funding act that expires in September 2009.

Congress will renew SAFETEALU in 2010, funding highways and other pork transit projects like the "Bridge to Nowhere." Yet neither levees nor public safety complexes are covered in SAFETEALU's surface transportation description.

Say this for Baker Donelson - it knows where in Congress to look for dough: "Schedule City of Hartford representativesfor appearances before the Appropriations committees and develop written testimony justifying City of Hartford's projects requests and policy requests, if any." Although its grammar seems a bit off.

One would hope that Johnson, Perez et al push for mass transit and bicycle and pedestrian project funding from SAFETEALU, rather than federal funding to rebuild the Aetna Viaduct. Yet since ConnDOT has no ready plans for I-84, will shovel-ready projects get Obama's nod over Hartford's pipe dreams?

Ahhh, don't worry. Baker Donelson covers its ass: "While the federal public policy process often does not lend itself to predictable timetables, the firm constantly monitors [government actions] which could affect the client's needs."

Caveat emptor. Congress may change its mind. And Ritter said he can't disagree with this criticism.

"We won't know for six months to a year whether it was the right decision," Ritter said. "There may be five people on Council who agree with you."

Page 3 of 3My Left Nutmeg :: Where Connecticut Dems Scratch That Progressive Itch

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Linda Daschle Categories: Politics

�

� Attended Kansas State University� Married Tom Daschle in 1984USA Today: Daschle, lobbyist wife vow to keep careers

separate (June 5, 2001)1

� Administrator of the FAA from 1993-1997� First woman ever to serve as the FAA's acting administratorBakerDonelson.com: Linda H.

Daschle Biography2

� Received the Amelia Earhart Pioneering Achievement Award in 2003BakerDonelson.com: Linda H. Daschle Biography2

� Past clients include American Airlines, Boeing and Lockheed MartinPolitico: Daschle'swife to open lobbyist firm (November 19, 2008)3

� Won Miss Kansas pageant in 1976USA Today: Daschle, lobbyist wife vow to keep careers separate (June 5, 2001)1

�

The Suffolk Group, LLCInfluential Massachusetts Lobbyists Lobbying, Regulatory, Procurementwww.thesuffolkgroup.com

Linda, Linda, Linda DVDAki Maeda & Yuu Kashii playing Blue Hearts Now In Stores!www.linda-movie.com

Hold Congress accountableCorruption won’t stop itself Find out how you can take actionwww.citizensforethics.org

�

Former administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Linda Hall Daschle is among the most influential and prominent lobbyists for the airline industry.BakerDonelson.com: Linda H. Daschle Biography2 On December 11, 2008, Linda Daschle's husband, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, was nominated by President-Elect Barack Obama to head the Department ofHealth and Human Services and the be the director of the White House office of health reform.CNN: Obama taps Daschle as 'lead architect' of health care plan (December 11, 2008)4

� Careful Career ChoicesAlthough some raised questions about possible ethics violations regarding the Daschle's marriage and careers, she being a lobbyist and he being a Senator, the Daschles have reportedly been careful not to cross boundaries.USA Today: Daschle, lobbyist wife vow to keep careers separate(June 5, 2001)1 When Tom Daschle joined the Senate, Linda Daschle ceased lobbying Senate staff and only resumed dealings with the Senate after her husband was no longer a member.The Hill: Linda Daschle to lobby the Senate (December 8, 2004)5 In November of 2008, when her husband's name was being mentioned in regards to a position in the Obama administration, Linda Daschle announced that she would be leaving her position as senior public policy adviser at lobbying firm

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Page 1 of 2Linda Daschle

11/21/2009http://www.mahalo.com/linda-daschle

In November of 2008, when her husband's y ( , ) ,name was being mentioned in regards to a position in the Obama administration, Linda Daschle g g p ,announced that she would be leaving her position as senior public policy adviser at lobbying firm

Baker Donelson to start her own firm. As the Daschles' new positions, although both political in nature, are in unrelated industries, there is unlikely to be any conflict of interest, according to Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics.Politico: Daschle'swife to open lobbyist firm (November 19, 2008)3

Page 2 of 2Linda Daschle

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Baker Donelson to start her own firm. A

Reflective Daschle urges Dems to 'stand up' for their beliefs By Albert Eisele - 01/04/05 07:00 PM ET

Former Senate Minority Leader Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) is urging fellow Democrats to stay true to their party’s principles without bending to tough new tactics contemplated by Republicans.

In a telephone interview from his home in Northwest Washington on his last day in office, after a career spanning 26 years in Congress, Daschle acknowledged that the “obstructionist” label was a factor in his being driven from office by Republican John Thune.

Former Senate Minority Leader

Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) is

urging fellow Democrats to stay

true to their party’s principles

without bending to tough new

tactics contemplated by

Republicans.

In a telephone interview from

his home in Northwest

Washington on his last day in

office, after a career spanning

26 years in Congress, Daschle

acknowledged that the

“obstructionist” label was a

factor in his being driven from

office by Republican John

Thune.

patrick g. ryan

Former Senate Minority Leader Tom

Daschle at his Foxhall Road N.W. home

yesterday.

But Daschle, who just turned 57, said he hopes fellow Democrats will not back

down as a result of his loss. “I think it would be the wrong lesson to learn from

my experience — somehow not to stand up for what you believe and do the

right thing while you’re here,” he said.

Asked whether the Democrats need to change direction after losing seats in

both the House and Senate, as well as their bid for the White House, Daschle

said it was “essential that we continue to find ways to make it a stronger and

more vigorous party than it has been.” But he added, “I don’t think that it means

morphing into a second Republican Party or some entity that is not reflective of

our philosophical and political approach.”

Daschle made his comments on the eve of a trip to New York City, where he

said he plans to meet with several investment-banking and law firms about job

possibilities.

He also has spoken to a number of colleges, universities and other institutions.

He said he plans to remain involved in South Dakota issues as well, focusing on

rural development and American Indians, while doing some work with his alma

mater, South Dakota State University.

He said he doesn’t plan to become a lobbyist. “I have nothing against those who

lobby, and my wife is a very good one herself,” he said. “One in the family is

probably all we need.” Linda Daschle is a successful lobbyist for Baker

Page 1 of 3Reflective Daschle urges Dems to 'stand up' for their beliefs - TheHill.com

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Former Senate Minority Leader Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.)

He said he doesn’t plan to become a lobbyist. “I have nothing against those who

lobby, and my wife is a very good one herself,” he said. “One in the family is

probably all we need.” Linda Daschle is a successful lobbyist for Baker

Donelson.

Daschle warned of the erosion of some of the Senate’s long-standing traditions

and cautioned Republicans not to undertake the so-called “nuclear” option of

forcing an end to Democratic filibusters of judicial nominees.

“I worry about the degradation of the institutional character of the Senate,” he

said. “That will be seen in a dramatic way if we go through what is commonly

referred to as the nuclear option where yet another institutional characteristic so

unique to the United States Senate will be obliterated.”

“I worry about the institution and its demise and what effect it could have on our

democracy in this republic were it to continue to erode as we’ve seen over the

course of the last few years,” he added.

Daschle took some parting shots at House Republicans, whom he has chided

for political extremism over the years, when asked about Republican leadership

efforts to change House ethics rules to protect Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-

Texas).

“I think you see the arrogance of power,” he said, “and with that arrogance

come mistakes that not only are regrettable for the country but ultimately will be

seen as regrettable for the Republican caucus and party. This is exactly what

got Democrats in trouble in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Ironically, we’re seeing

some of the same mistakes being made again.”

Asked for his assessment of President Bush as he begins his second term,

Daschle called Bush a very “likable and disarming individual.” But he said Bush

also is “rigidly ideological and in some ways uncompromisingly partisan, and

when he is in that mode there is little you can do.”

In the face of such tactics, Democrats must stay united, Daschle said, “because

it’s only through our unity that we have any strength. As soon as we lose the

unity, we lose any negotiating ability, and ultimately then, just by picking off a

few Democrats, the president and the Republicans have all they need.”

Daschle called the debate on Social Security reform a “classic example” of a

case where the parties have profound differences. He said that Democrats

should work with Bush to make the system more viable but that the fight against

privatization is an example of where Democrats should stand their ground.

“I think it’s one of those times where Democrats urgently need to be counted

and stand up for something they feel is as important to our country as anything

we’ll be taking up this year.”

Daschle brought up his close personal relationship with former Senate Majority

Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), with whom Daschle worked to help steer the

Senate through President Clinton’s impeachment, the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks

and an anthrax attack on Daschle’s office.

“We were unlikely friends, and I don’t know the degree to which today Senator

Lott is even able to acknowledge that friendship, but I think it’s really what got

us through these crises we faced when we were both leaders.”

Page 2 of 3Reflective Daschle urges Dems to 'stand up' for their beliefs - TheHill.com

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Donelson.

But he was less forthcoming when asked to assess Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-

Tenn.). “Senator Frist is a good leader, too. He has a different style. I had a

good working relationship with him as well.”

On the war in Iraq, which he and most Senate Democrats initially supported,

Daschle said the situation “is increasingly looking like a quagmire. I think that it’s

very, very difficult to see how we extricate ourselves from Iraq in the near

future.”

Asked how he would like to be remembered, Daschle replied, “I guess if I can

be remembered for anything, it would be that I was a good leader and that I

reflected well on the people of my state in leadership capacity as well as my role

as a United States senator. If that could be generally acknowledged, I guess I

would feel satisfied.”

Daschle predicted that yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony for new members,

which he didn’t attend, would be “bittersweet.” He put his visiting mother on a

plane back to Aberdeen, S.D., on Monday and said she advised him to “just

keep looking forward.”

“I think that’s about as good a piece of advice as one can have,” he said.

Page 3 of 3Reflective Daschle urges Dems to 'stand up' for their beliefs - TheHill.com

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