President Obama's trade team is coming into focus with the Senate's confirmation Wednesday of Demetrios Marantis as deputy U.S. Trade Representative. Marantis was Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus' top trade staffer.
Obama also said Wednesday he will work to open foreign markets to U.S. products and make it easier for other countries to sell their goods here, and that he is "developing a plan of action for pending trade agreements" with Panama, Colombia and South Korea.
Obama discussed the benefits of global trade in his proclamation that the third week of May will be World Trade Week, a tradition dating back to the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. Positive words might be expected in such a proclamation, but Obama himself up until this point had largely delegated the subject to Trade Representative Ron Kirk.
Kirk has said the administration would like to move "relatively quickly" on the Panama pact, which has angered some labor unions and critics on Capitol Hill. The Colombia and South Korea deals are still seen as longer-term projects with no timeline for action.
By CONGRESSDAILY STAFF
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced today a series of staff appointments, led by Julianna Smoot, a national finance director of the Obama presidential campaign and co-chairwoman of the inaugural committee, as his chief of staff.
Other appointments include Peter Cowhey of the University of California at San Diego as his senior counselor; Tim Reif, chief international trade counsel at the House Ways and Means Committee, as general counsel; Lisa Garcia, who worked for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as assistant trade representative for intergovernmental affairs and public liaison and manager of the U.S. trade advisory system; Daniel Sepulveda, an aide to President Obama when he was senator, as assistant trade representative for congressional affairs; and Luis Jimenez, a legislative and trade adviser to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel when he was in the House, as deputy assistant trade representative for congressional affairs.
Kirk also named Carol Guthrie, the communications director for Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., as assistant trade representative for public and media affairs.
The Senate confirmed former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk to be U.S. Trade Representative today, 92-5, winning over a reluctant Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and other Republicans concerned about mixed signals from the Obama administration on trade. "Mr. Kirk has been less than forthcoming on a number of trade issues that affect this country, and some of the positions that he has articulated are very dangerous for this nation's future," McCain said in a floor speech, before concluding that he would vote to confirm Kirk regardless.
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By CONGRESSDAILY STAFF
The Senate is expected to confirm Ron Kirk as U.S. Trade Representative this afternoon. While some Republicans have questioned his views, enough of them have said they would vote for him to make getting 60 votes a virtual certainty. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said on the floor this morning that he would "reluctantly" vote for confirmation. Still, he said Kirk had been "less than forthcoming on a number of trade issues" and has backed administration policies that could put the country on the path to "protectionism and isolationism." The vote is scheduled for 2 p.m.
By PETER COHN, CongressDaily
The Senate Finance Committee will vote Thursday on the nomination of former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk to be U.S. Trade Representative, Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., announced today.
Kirk appeared before the panel in a rapid-fire hearing Monday evening that was cut short due to votes on amendments to the FY09 omnibus appropriations bill. There appear to be no impediments to his confirmation, although the hearing Monday was sparsely attended. There was little reference to Kirk's tax troubles, which include nearly $10,000 in underpayments uncovered by Finance investigators.
Across the Capitol, House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin, D-Mich., held an organizational meeting for the 111th Congress, outlining a broad agenda ranging from a hearing on the trade aspects of climate change March 24 to renewal of expiring trade preferences programs granting numerous developing nations duty-free access to U.S. markets.
Levin said he was heartened by Kirk's testimony Monday, which signaled a shift away from negotiating new trade agreements and toward enforcement of existing ones. He said he hopes to move trade enforcement legislation that he introduced with Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., in January "expeditiously," but said the bill could be revamped in talks with Kirk and the Obama administration.
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By CONGRESSDAILY STAFF
(Credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)
Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee this afternoon revealed that another of President Obama's nominees -- U.S. Trade Representative-designate Ron Kirk -- has tax problems.
Finance staff briefed aides to committee members today on the revelations, which indicate the former Dallas mayor underpaid taxes to the tune of $9,975 during 2005-07, and that he has agreed to promptly file adjustments. The underpayments deal in part with speaking honoraria he received that he listed as charitable donations to his alma mater, Austin College.
Kirk instead should have reported the honoraria as taxable income and then deducted the donations. The panel also asked Kirk for substantiation of other charitable donations he has made, including a television set, and it has questioned Kirk's write-offs of business expenses, including those for Dallas Mavericks season tickets.
Finance Committee leaders said in a joint statement that it was important for all panel members to have the necessary information in advance of next Monday's confirmation hearing. In a separate statement, Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., reiterated support for the nominee: Kirk "is the right person for this job and I will work to move his nomination quickly," he said.
By CONGRESSDAILY STAFF
The Senate Finance Committee could hold a hearing a week from today on the nomination of former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk to be U.S. Trade Representative, sources said. The panel has not formally scheduled a hearing yet, but it was expected to move on Kirk's nomination shortly after finishing work on the economic stimulus package. The hearing is expected to provide some clues into President Obama's trade policy, which has taken a backseat to the stimulus. Kirk's record of support for free-trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement could be an issue with some members of the labor movement. Panel members are likely to grill Kirk on the Obama administration's intentions with regard to pending and proposed trade agreements as well as enforcement issues, such as China's currency devaluation.
By CONGRESSDAILY STAFF
President Obama appears to be filling out his trade team, having tapped House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee staff director Tim Reif as general counsel and chief enforcement officer for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, sources said today.
In serving as the top trade staffer for Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin, D-Mich., Reif brings to USTR a close Hill connection, which top Democrats thought was lacking in George W. Bush's USTR. Reif is expected to aggressively monitor other nations' compliance with international trade rules, which could dominate the trade agenda, particularly with regard to China. Reif started at USTR this week.
Obama might nominate the top trade aide to Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, Demetrios Marantis, as deputy to Trade Representative-designate Ron Kirk, Inside U.S. Trade has reported, although sources said no decision has been made. Baucus has long reflected a centrist view on trade policy, backing free-trade agreements while supporting increased aid to U.S. workers hurt by globalization.
By KEVIN FRIEDL
Barack Obama rounded out his Cabinet-level nominations in Chicago this afternoon, naming California Rep. Hilda Solis (D) as his choice for Labor secretary, Illinois Rep. Ray LaHood (R) as his Transportation secretary pick and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk as his nominee for U.S. trade representative.
The president-elect's choices bring a Latina, a second Republican and a Southerner into his Cabinet. He also named Karen Mills, an economist and adviser to his transition team, to head the Small Business Administration.
Taking place in the wake of President Bush's announcement about the auto bailout, on a Friday afternoon and after the superstar picks Obama has already announced, this round of nominations had a somewhat perfunctory feel, and reporters' questions focused more on the state of the economy than on Obama's team itself.
"This is not an optimal situation, but what we're going to have to do is make the best decision we can with the hand we're dealt," Obama said in response to a question about his stimulus plan. Repairing the economy, he said, involves focusing "single-mindedly on job creation, increasing demand, getting the economy back on track, fixing our financial markets."
"That is going to cost a significant amount of money on the front end," he acknowledged, adding that deficit spending was nevertheless necessary to stimulate the economy. "Then we'll have laid that groundwork for long-term economic growth."
"We're going to have to be bold," Obama said.
Solis is known in the House as a close ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi as well as a strong union supporter, and her selection was cheered by organized labor even before the choice became official.
LaHood's reception by transportation interest groups was more reserved. Patrick Forrey, president of the air trafiic controllers union, released a statement saying only that he was "looking forward to sitting down with Secretary-designee LaHood as soon as possible" -- hardly a ringing endorsement.
Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., on Tuesday night confirmed his intention to remain in Congress rather than serve as President-elect Obama's U.S. trade representative.
In a statement, the eight-term lawmaker said that while he was honored to be considered by Obama, he would prefer to continue serving his Los Angeles-area district. "I am grateful for that privilege and now see a rare opportunity to push across the goal line much of the unfinished business of America," said Becerra, who will serve as vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus and as a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee in the 111th Congress.
Becerra said while working with Obama would be "the opportunity of a lifetime," he will nonetheless get that opportunity, just at the other end of Pennsylvania Ave. Becerra's decision ends a budding race to replace him as Caucus vice chairman, with a field that included Reps. Kendrick Meek of Florida, Joseph Crowley of New York, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and Joe Baca of California and possibly others.
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.
