Rep. Cox Receives Extension in Filing Financial Disclosure

Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), President Bush’s choice to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, has received an extension on filing his House financial disclosure information to the public, officials said Wednesday.

The material for most House members was released Wednesday. Cox was one of 57 House members to receive an extension on the filing deadline for the disclosures, in which legislators provide information about their income, assets and liabilities, mostly within broad ranges.

Cox’s office referred questions on the matter to the White House, where an aide noted that Cox was busy with homeland security legislation at the time of the May 16 deadline for the financial disclosures. Cox is chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Bush nominated Cox on June 2 to replace SEC Chairman William H. Donaldson, who is stepping down June 30. The appointment requires Senate approval.

The confirmation hearing is expected to be held sometime after July 11, when the Senate returns from its Fourth of July recess. Democrats have asked the White House also to forward the names of incumbent Commissioner Roel C. Campos and SEC staffer Annette L. Nazareth to fill two other openings on the commission. The administration has not agreed to do so.

As part of the confirmation process, Cox will provide more detailed information on his personal finances to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, which will keep that information confidential. Cox also is required to provide similar financial information, including details of his assets and liabilities, to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, which will make that information available to the public.

According to Cox’s 2003 House disclosure, released a year ago, most of his assets were in money market and mutual funds, rather than holdings of individual stocks, although he reported a stake in Coca-Cola valued at $1,001 to $15,000. The 2003 report stated his assets to be worth $632,000 to more than $1.3 million.