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PEBO Taps Becerra to be Top Trade Rep
December 03, 2008 10:11 AM
Democrats tell ABC News that President-elect Obama has offered the job of U.S. Trade Representative to Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif.
Becerra, a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, has not yet announced that he has accepted the job. Having just been elected vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Becerra's office Wednesday morning would only say that he's looking forward to his work in the 111th Congress. Already there is talk on Capitol Hill of Reps. Joe Crowley, D-NY, Kendrick Meek, D-Florida, and others running for Becerra's vice chair seat.
The move to tap the liberal Southern California congressman indicates that Mr. Obama's campaign rhetoric about trade was not just words, and U.S. policy will soon make a dramatic shift from the trade policies of the Bush administration, with more union and environmental concerns taken into account during trade negotiations.
Becerra has said that "all the evidence points to the fact that NAFTA and CAFTA are not the approach to free trade or fair trade. They're a prescription for increased commerce, but one that concentrates the benefits of that commerce in the hands of very few." Becerra voted for NAFTA in 1993, but has said he regrets the vote.
The congressman from the Golden State's 31st congressional district, first elected in 1992, in 2007 voted for the free trade deal with Peru, but he voted against free trade deals with Oman in 2006, with Central America in 2004, and against the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act in 2005.
Speaking against the free trade deal with Oman in 2006, Becerra assailed trade deals that lead to massive trade deficits and don't protect U.S. interests.
"I hate to say it, but I think it has become very obvious that our system for devising trade agreements, so very important to this country's functioning around the world, has not only broken, but it has broken completely," Becerra said.
The son of Mexican immigrants, Becerra, if he becomes USTR, would be the second Hispanic to join PEBO's Cabinet, in addition to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, whose nomination as Secretary of Commerce Mr. Obama will announce this morning.
-- jpt
December 3, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (5)
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Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif is a very intellegent fellow. I trust him with protecting our jobs and getting us good new jobs.
Fight-On!
Posted by: Alex in LA | Dec 5, 2008 4:00:27 PM
I would love to see Sonia get the job. I clerked on the Southern District, and she was such a nice judge. Later she was elevated to the Court of Appeals. I am not sure he will appoint her though. She is somewhat of a risk because she is unfairly portrayed as a strident liberal by conservatives. Also, she is rumored to be a lesbian. I would love a Latina Lesbian on the Court but I am not the average American who believes that sexual orientation impacts one's ability to decide cases!
Posted by: Mildly Enthusiastic | Dec 3, 2008 3:47:30 PM
I'm just glad WE are being represented with competent people and not just token appointments.
Posted by: Juan Valdez | Dec 3, 2008 1:17:30 PM
Duh. Everybody knows that Sonia Sotamayor will be the next Justice to court.
Posted by: XO | Dec 3, 2008 12:00:33 PM
mark my words...the third Hispanic he appoints is going to be his supreme court nominee... a latina.
Posted by: dl | Dec 3, 2008 10:48:48 AM
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