Vilsack Out as Ag-Secretary?

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Yesterday, New Mexico Governor, Bill Richardson withdrew his name from the appointment of Commerce Secretary due to a federal probe investigating campaign financing and an ethical business practices.  According to very reliable sources, the NY Times is reporting tonight that Tom Vilsack may get the Commerce Secretary job instead.  Before your head begins to spin let me explain.  Tom Vilsack was just appointed to the Ag Secretary post two weeks ago of which received relatively good reviews from US stakeholders.   With the Vilsack Ag Secretary nomination meeting set for Jan 14th, this will prove to be a very interesting week.

It was suggested earlier today by Project Logic Ga, a website focusing on southern moderate African American issues, that Vilsack should move to Commerce and Sanford Bishop become the new Ag Secretary.  This is in response to criticism Obama is receiving regarding not appointing any southerners or African Americans to his caucus.  Of course Bishop covers both of these characteristics.  I also found on Twitter tonight that there are reports of Christine Gregoire filling the Commerce position.

I am sure many names are going to surface in the coming days for the Commerce position and the Vilsack switch is not for sure.  But for those of us that are affected by issues like COOL and other US trade policies, this lack of stability is proving to be unsettling.   It is hard enough to figure out if Vilsack is friend or foe to the other NAFTA countries but now we may have to get ready for a different person filling the Ag Secretary position again.  I am not quite sure how to feel about all this hoopla but I do know that I support whoever states that they will repeal COOL first.  I guess a person can only dream.

Let the speculation begin.

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Categories: COOL / Trade / US Ag Policy

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