Bush Completes Cabinet Picks, Adds a Democrat

President-elect George W. Bush filled out his Cabinet on Tuesday with three nominees, including the first and only Democrat. The trio highlights again his determination to present an administration that is diverse in race, ethnicity and gender--if not in its overall conservative philosophy.

Bush tapped California Democrat Norman Y. Mineta--the current Commerce secretary--to head the Department of Transportation; outgoing Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), an Arab American, as secretary of Energy; and Linda Chavez, former staff director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, as Labor secretary.

Each of the appointees--like several before them--has a compelling, even inspirational background that bespeaks the American dream.

Mineta, a former congressman, is a Japanese American who spent time as a child in an internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Abraham, a Harvard law school graduate, is the descendant of Lebanese immigrants. And Chavez is the daughter of a restaurant and department store worker and a house painter.

On substantive issues, however, two of the appointments could prove controversial. Like Bush, Abraham--who once advocated abolishing the Energy department outright--strongly backs opening parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling; Chavez ardently opposes affirmative action.

And perhaps more telling than initial appearances will be the senior appointments that each Cabinet officer makes--key aides whose ability to influence public policy will far outdistance their relative anonymity beyond the Washington Beltway.

Making the announcements Tuesday in a downtown hotel ballroom, Bush reveled in the completion of his Cabinet. He called its members “strong and confident people” who will deliver unvarnished advice to a chief executive who is an avowed delegator.

During a brief question-and-answer period, Bush also promoted his across-the-board tax cut plan and restated his intention to escalate the exploration for, and development of, oil and gas resources “in an environmental sensitive way.”

“I can’t think of a better way to start the new year than to round out a Cabinet--one that I think is one of the strongest that any president has been ever able to assemble,” he said.

Asked what Americans should make of his team, Bush replied: “Well, first, it says I’m not afraid to surround myself with strong and competent people. I believe the American people want a president who seeks the best, people from all walks of life who are strong, experienced, capable Americans.”

The president-elect also reiterated his intention to present his full campaign agenda to the Congress, insisting his vision for the country is the one that voters endorsed.

On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, it was unclear Tuesday how quickly Senate committees would be able to move on confirmation hearings.

Negotiations are continuing between Senate Republicans and Democrats over how to apportion committee seats and staff to reflect the 50-50 split in the Senate, which is traditionally run by majority rule.

Until those negotiations are settled, party leaders cannot assign new members to committees and fill vacancies.

Bush is scheduled to hold a private, two-hour meeting here today with business executives from across the country to discuss the state of the U.S. economy, which he again warned Tuesday may be heading for a downturn.

All three of Bush’s latest appointments are Washington insiders intimately familiar with the levers of power.

Bush said the 69-year-old Mineta “is perfectly suited” for the transportation job. “He made a career in the halls of Congress focusing on transportation issues with a philosophy that we share. And I can’t wait for people in our party to hear Norm talk about his vision.”

Mineta said his priority will be to improve the nation’s transportation system.

“Inadequate infrastructure is one of the chief threats to a thriving economy,” he said.

Mineta explained his decision to join the Republican administration this way: “There are no Democratic or Republican highways, no such thing as Republican or Democratic traffic congestion, no such thing as Republican or Democratic aviation and highway safety. Cargo is not shipped by Republican or Democratic railroads, ships, barges, or pipelines.”

California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres called Mineta’s selection a “bright and sophisticated move.”

In naming Abraham, 48, as Energy secretary, the president-elect alluded to his support for expanding domestic oil exploration.

The outgoing senator--who lost his reelection bid in November--”is ready to join me in seeking energy security for the United States,” Bush said. “We understand our national security depends upon energy security.”

Business groups were quick to endorse Bush’s choice Tuesday. Thomas Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned public utilities, called Abraham a “leader in the Senate, a very thoughtful policy person, just who we need to help address the range of challenging energy issues the country is facing today.”

But environmental and consumer groups were highly critical.

Abraham “has supported the auto industry and the oil industry, as opposed to the public interest,” declared Anna Aurelio of the California Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocacy organization.

Bush described Chavez, 53, as “a familiar voice on issues facing American workers, a staunch advocate of civil rights for everybody. . . . We share a passion to make sure that nobody in America is left behind. We share a passion that says as the economy changes, our work force will be trained to meet the new economic opportunities in the 21st century.”

In accepting her nomination, Chavez--a former labor union official--acknowledged her deceased father, a house painter, who “taught me the dignity of manual labor.”

“As someone whose own childhood poverty cut short his education in the 9th grade, he nonetheless introduced me to the world of books and ideas. And those are what enabled me to take a path that was easier than his own.” Chavez also thanked her mother, who she said “stood on her feet long hours in restaurants and in department stores to help support our family.”

Chavez vowed to “keep faith with the men and the women who still work at jobs like those my parents held.” She said she intends to “seek out new opportunities to increase the skills and the productivity of all Americans, to promote safe working conditions and to administer the nation’s labor laws.”

While business groups applauded her nomination, labor and civil rights groups expressed concern.

Cecilia Munoz--vice president for policy at the National Council of La Raza, a Latino civil rights group--said that Chavez has been “in favor of dismantling affirmative action. She really opposes a vigorous federal role in enforcing civil rights laws.”

*

Times staff writer Janet Hook contributed to this story.

*

More Inside

The Bush Team: Profiles of Cabinet nominees Norman Y. Mineta, Linda Chavez and Spencer Abraham, A8-9