Bush announces choices for Treasury, Commerce, USDA, HUD

President-elect Bush Wednesday announced four major Cabinet nominations:

• Paul O'Neill, chairman of Alcoa, a major aluminum company, to be Secretary of the Treasury.
• Don Evans, Bush's campaign chairman and oil company executive, to head the Commerce Department.
• Anne Veneman, former head of California's Agriculture Department, to head USDA.
• Orange County, Fla., chairman Mel Martinez, a Cuban-born refugee, to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Defense

Several sources contended before Bush met with former Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., that Coats "is likely to be" Bush's choice to be Defense Secretary, according to the Associated Press. The sources maintained that Bush wanted to meet with Coats before making a final determination on the nomination.

The New York Times said it "now appears almost certain that with the Pentagon, as with the vice presidency," Bush has "passed over" Pennsylvania GOP Gov. Tom Ridge "after allowing speculation about him to heat up to a boil." GOPers "inside and outside" the Bush-Cheney transition team said that abortion "played at most a minor role" in the choice. They said that Ridge's voting record on military issues, Coats' "strong support" among congressional leaders and Ridge's "own hesitancy" about leaving PA were "more important" issues.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell that Coats would "do an excellent job. He, it seems to me, fits Governor Bush's philosophy about governing and about government. I think Coats is respected. I think he's credible. I think he's trusted."

Health and Human Services

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that after Wisconsin GOP governor Tommy Thompson met with Bush in Washington, the "word is" he has been offered the top spot at HHS and that he "has accepted the job."

Thompson "has anguished for days over a possible appointment and prayed about it at Mass last weekend," according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Thompson's wife Sue Ann "said they talked about going to Washington so much that she established one rule: She won't move there."

CNN reported that sources close to Thompson said he would rather be Transportation secretary, "But he won't say no, we're told, if the governor, the President-elect, offers HHS."

Justice

The Billings Gazette reported that Montana GOP Gov. Marc Racicot would meet with Bush Wednesday morning about becoming the next attorney general. In addition, a source "who insisted in anonymity" said that Bush and Racicot "have talked over the phone in recent days" and Bush invited him to Austin to meet about the top spot at DOJ. However, "it remains to be seen whether Racicot would accept" an offer from Bush.

A Wall Street Journal report said that different Bush aides "were saying that Bush has decided on the individual" but they offered "two different winners," mentioning Racicot and Oklahoma GOP Gov. Frank Keating.

The Associated Press reported that Sen. John Ashcroft, R-Mo., "made it clear" yesterday that he woud consider an appointment to the Bush Cabinet as attorney general. "I certainly don't want to suggest that he has offered me the job," said Ashcroft, "but if he were to offer it to me it would be my responsibility to talk to him about it. ... I think any citizen asked by the President of the United States to do something that can help the country would respond constructively."

Education

Former New York Democratic Rep. Floyd Flake is getting "serious consideration" from the Bush-Cheney transition team as a possible candidate for Education Secretary, according to Crain's Insider. Flake, who has been president of Edison Charter Schools, met with Cheney Tuesday and was to fly Wednesday to to Austin to meet with Bush. Flake said he had "mixed feelings" about taking the Education job.

The Associated Press said Florida Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan "could soon be working for" the Bush administration as Education Secretary. Florida GOP Gov. Jeb Bush said he spoke with his brother about Brogan about the position. "With all due respect to all the candidates being considered, Frank Brogan combines all of the tools necessary for being the best Secretary of Education this country has ever seen," Bush said.

Transportation

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Illinois Democratic Rep. Bill Lipinski may be on the short list for DOT.

According to a report in the Witchita Eagle, Kansas' "leading aviation, railroad and oil companies launched a telephone campaign" yesterday urging Bush to appoint Kansas GOP Gov. Bill Graves as DOT Secretary. Graves said that about a half-dozen people have called him, "seeking permission to put his name before Bush's transition team." In a written statement, Graves "made it clear he would accept an offer": "I'm flattered and appreciative that individuals would make an effort to support me. ... What's most important is who would best serve President-elect Bush.

Energy

The Las Vegas Sun reported that Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., "sent a strong message" to Bush yesterday saying that he should not tap former Sen. Bennett Johnston, D-La., to be Energy Secretary. Reid said that Bennett "is a champion of the nuclear power industry and a strong proponent of a proposal to open the nation's nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain." Reid: "The name [Johnston] leaped out so hard I couldn't wait to get to the office and find out if it was a serious matter."

Interior

Colorado GOP Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell "keeps popping up on the sort list" for a position at the Interior or Labor departments, according to the Pueblo, Colo., Chieftain. Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo.: "I know the Bush administration thinks highly of Sen. Campbell and I think there is a good chance that he will be picked to head either the Interior Department or the Labor Department."

Environmental Protection Agency

The Newark Star-Ledger reported that New Jersey GOP Gov. Christie Whitman "has accepted" an offer from Bush to head EPA "and will cut short her second term" as the Garden State's governor. Sources added that Bush is "expected to officially name Whitman to the post by week's end."

Whitman would replace current EPA administrator Carol Browner, who was appointed in 1993 and is the longest-serving administrator in the EPA's history.

Office of Management and Budget

Washington speculation on who will become the head of OMB includes Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Rep. John Kasich, R-Ohio, Texas Budget Director Albert Hawkins, George Mason University's Timothy Muris, Senate Budget Committee staff director Bill Hoagland and Rep. David McIntosh, R-Ind., UPI reported. Two other candidates, Chris DeMuth of the American Enterprise Institute and John Cogan of the Hoover Institution "are said to have taken themselves out of consideration."