By PETER COHN, CongressDaily
(Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., is in discussions with President-elect Obama's transition team about taking the job of United States trade representative in the new administration, sources said Tuesday.
Becerra, who won election as House Democratic Caucus vice chairman just last month, has not accepted the offer to head the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and is still considering it, sources said. A Becerra spokeswoman would not comment on a possible offer from Obama, saying only that Becerra is looking forward to his duties as vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus in the 111th Congress.
Becerra is seen as a middle-of-the-road pick on trade policy, someone who could appeal to both business and labor groups, sources said. He voted against the Central America Free Trade Agreement in 2005 -- but helped lead the effort on behalf of Democratic leadership in support of the Peru Free Trade Agreement last year.
"It's a sign that adults are back in charge," said one labor source.
Becerra -- who was given the title of "assistant to the speaker" when the Democrats took control of the House two years ago and Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California assumed the speakership -- has been a member of the House since 1992, representing a district on the south side of Los Angeles. He ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2001, finishing a distant fifth.
If he joins the Obama administration, he would become one of its most high-profile Hispanic members -- joining New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who is poised to be named Commerce secretary.
Additional reporting by Christian Bourge.
Becerra's profile in the Almanac of American Politics is available to subscribers here.
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