President-elect Barack Obama is considering Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as his top choice for Homeland Security Secretary, while former Senator Tom Daschle is expected to be named Secretary of Health and Human Services. The transition team is aiming for a diverse cabinet, but many appointees have connections to the Clinton administration, raising questions about whether these choices reflect the change Obama promised. Critics express concerns about the influence of previous administrations on Obama's staffing decisions and the overall direction of his administration.

1. Sources: Napolitano top choice for homeland security secretary - CNN.com Page 1 of 2
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Sources: Napolitano top choice for homeland
security secretary
z Story Highlights
z Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano top choice for homeland security
z Ex-Sen. Tom Daschle to become head of HHS, sources say
z More than half of those named to Obama's transition or staff posts have Clinton ties
z Transition team says it's dedicated to creating team that's "diverse in many ways"
(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama's top choice for secretary of homeland security is Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, multiple
Democratic sources close to the transition told CNN on condition of anonymity.
One source said he believed the final decision depends on the vetting of the Democratic governor, much like the selection of Eric Holder for
attorney general.
Also, multiple Democratic sources say billionaire Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker is Obama's choice for commerce secretary.
Pritzker ran Obama's record-breaking fundraising effort, serving as the campaign's finance chair.
The sources say she will accept the job, which would be formally offered after vetting is complete. But whether the rigors of the Obama
vetting process will present a challenge to a business person with no record in public office -- and presumably extensive financial holdings -
- was unknown. See whose names are emerging »
Obama met last week with Sen. Hillary Clinton to discuss the possibility of her serving as secretary of state. The Obama team is also
vetting her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who has made several concessions in moving the process along. Sen. Clinton's
response is expected this week. Watch how Obama's team wants to avoid 'distractions' »
However, a Democratic official said Wednesday that Senate leadership is considering a new role for Sen. Clinton should she decide to
remain in the Senate.
Also Wednesday, three sources close to the transition said Obama has chosen former Sen. Tom Daschle to be Secretary of Health and
Human Services, and the former Senate majority leader has indicated he wants the job. Watch how Obama's Cabinet will have ties to lobbyists »
The sources said that Daschle negotiated that he will also serve as the White House health "czar," or point person, so that he will report
directly to the incoming president.
By wearing two hats, Daschle -- not White House staffers -- will be writing the health care plan that Obama submits to Congress next year.
The sources said the timing of the announcement has not been worked out, but Daschle is likely to join the Obama transition team as the
lead adviser on health issues in the next few weeks. Watch what the Daschle pick could mean »
An Obama transition official would not comment.
Daschle is currently billed as a "special public policy adviser" in the Washington office of the law firm Alston & Bird.
He is not a federally registered lobbyist, but his wife, Linda Daschle, is a registered lobbyist at the firm Baker Donelson, which has clients in
health-related fields.
Critics question whether Obama's top staff picks so far represent the "change" that he promised during the campaign. iReport.com: Who
f i
would you choose for Obama's cabinet?
EXHIBIT
More than half of the people named to Obama's transition or staff posts have ties to President Clinton's administration.
XCIV
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2. Sources: Napolitano top choice for homeland security secretary - CNN.com Page 2 of 2
In addition to Sen. Clinton and incoming White Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who is a former top aide to President Clinton, Eric Holder and
Peter Orszag also have Clinton ties.
Holder, who is expected to be named attorney general, served as Clinton's deputy attorney general. Orszag, who will reportedly head the
Office of Budget and Management, was Clinton's special assistant at the National Economic Council and served on the Council of
Economic Advisers.
The Clinton-heavy team has caused Republicans to question Obama's call for change. Watch analysts weigh in on Obama's staff picks »
"I think several individuals are very frustrated to think that President-elect Obama may just cut and paste from some of the Democratic
operatives from the Clinton administration and put them into his White House," said Leslie Sanchez, a Republican strategist and CNN
contributor.
Republicans aren't the only ones who want Obama to branch out. Robert Kuttner, a liberal and author of "Obama's Challenge," says the
president-elect should broaden his recruiting efforts.
"It's not as if the only competent people who ever served in government or who are capable of serving in government are veterans of the
Clinton administration, so he's got to be careful how many Clintonistas he appoints to top level government posts," Kuttner said.
Before Clinton, however, Democrats had not been in the White House since Jimmy Carter, and many of those in Carter's administration are
too old to serve again under Obama.
The Obama transition team said in a statement that they are dedicated to building a well-rounded administration.
"President-elect Obama is committed to putting together a competent team that is diverse in many ways, including experience. Serving in
high level positions whether in government, in the private sector or in public service is seen as a positive," spokesman Nick Shapiro said.
CNN's Gloria Borger, Jason Carrol, Ed Henry, Jamie McIntyre, John King and Jessica Yellin contributed to this report.
All AboutBarack Obama • Bill Clinton
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Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article.
© 2008 Cable News Network
http://cnn.site.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Sources%3A+Napolitan... 11/19/2009

3. My Left Nutmeg :: Where Connecticut Dems Scratch That Progressive Itch Page 1 of 3
Close Window
Hartford Looks to Hire Former Congresscritter Nancy Johnson
as Its Washington DC Lobbyist
by: ken_krayeske
Sun Jan 11, 2009 at 12:30:27 PM EST
(Oh my... - promoted by ctblogger)
Cross-posted from the40yearplan.com
Former Congresswoman Nancy Johnson couldn't win enough votes in Connecticut's Fifth Congressional District to
secure re-election in 2006.
Come Monday, January 12, Johnson needs only five votes in Hartford's Court of Common Council to win a $13,000 a
month, six month lobbying contract for her new employer, the Tennessee law/lobbying firm of Baker Donelson.
That's more than $65,000 from January to June 2009, with an option to renew for another six months, to lobby for
Hartford's wish list of $50 million for levee repair, and a few million more for a new public safety complex.
The city put the federal lobbying contract out to bid, and Mayor Eddie Perez's chief of staff Matt Hennessey and former
mayoral aide Derek Donnelly winnowed the responses down to five finalists based on price, experience and other
factors, according to City Councilman Matt Ritter.
Ritter and Council President Calixto Torres helped Hennessey and Donnelly, who was recently laid off, interview the
five finalists. Baker Donelson gave the best presentation, Ritter said.
"Nancy Johnson was in the interview, but she was not the lead presenter," Ritter said. "She had three other people
with her. She talked about what she does, more health care and things like that."
If Johnson will not lead Baker Donelson's team of former Congressional staffers to lobby for Hartford, why does her
mug grace page one of Baker Donelson's proposal? Ritter acknowledges may be a misplay on their part.
"It's probably because she is from Connecticut," he said. But the voters of Connecticut showed her the door, and voted
in Chris Murphy, whose father is Ritter's boss at the Hartford law firm of Shipman and Goodwin.
Baker Donelson won because it has expertise in environmental issues, which would help with the levee, Ritter said.
Nor does Baker Donelson represent a lot of other cities.
Even still Ritter does not know if Johnson's lobbying proposal will pass
http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=10961&view=print 11/19/2009

4. My Left Nutmeg :: Where Connecticut Dems Scratch That Progressive Itch Page 2 of 3
Even still, Ritter does not know if Johnson s lobbying proposal will pass.
"I don't know if we will have five votes," Ritter said. "It is a gamble. The fee is not contingent on them giving you
success. They may not be able to get you success. I think it is a calculated risk worth taking now."
Councilman Luis Cotto doubts the need for such a $13,000 a month roll of the dice.
"That is hard pill to swallow," Cotto said. "$13,000 a month is more than I make a year. There is no guarantee. What
has been our track record with lobbyists? Maybe we are wasting our money."
The $13,000 comes from a letter to the City, Cotto said. Baker Donelson's September 16, 2008 proposal calls for an
$18,000 a month fee.
If it brings home $50 million, Cotto said it is probably worth it. But hiring a lobbyist begs the question - isn't this what
Hartford elected Congressman John Larson to do? After all, Larson sits as one of the five most powerful Dems in the
House of Representatives.
"This resolution speaks to the fact that municipalities have to compete with other municipalities," Cotto said. "It's not
as simple as don't pay and yippee yiyay, Larson will get us some money."
Many constituent groups peddle different visions of Hartford to Larson, and he also has to address the needs of East
Hartford, West Hartford and the rest of his district, Ritter said.
"Hartford needs to do well in this stimulus package," Ritter said of President-elect Obama's proposed trillion dollar
infrastructure and economic rejuvenation bill.
"John Larson is a dear family friend, and a great Congressman for our district," Ritter said. Larson has spent time on
the Capewell project, and sees that as key to Hartford's future, Ritter said.
"But he can't do everything, and it is unfair for him to do everything for us," Ritter said. "That is the decision we have
to make on Monday night."
But Baker Donelson's proposal doesn't inspire much confidence. Baker Donelson is historically a Republican firm.
Howard Baker, the former Tennessee Senator and one-time Chief of Staff for Ronald Reagan, is the grandson of the
firm's namesake. Baker, at 83 years young, is listed in an "of counsel" capacity in the firm's materials.
The Baker Donelson proposal advertises the presence of Linda Daschle, the wife of Tom Daschle, Obama's nominee for
Secretary of Health and Human Services. Linda Daschle resigned from Baker Donelson around November 18, and
Baker Donelson's website has scrubbed any references to her.
Considering that this is a Democratic Congress, Ritter said he thought Daschle's departure doomed Baker Donelson,
leaving it without a heavy-hitting Democrat.
"We took them off the list," Ritter said. "But according to Derek Donnelly, they have assured the city, they are hiring
another major Democrat to take Linda Daschle's spot. That comforted Matt and Derek enough to go for Baker
Donelson."
Big lobbying firms in Washington understand how the game is played, Ritter said, and they know they need to bring in
another Democrat.
The rest of the Baker Donelson's RFP reads like boilerplate slag from the firm's website, and not just the Public Policy
section directed at Hartford.
The RFP runs through pages of Baker Donelson's commitment to diversity, its Women's Initiative, and a six-page
newsletter on the Federal Gulf Coast Reconstruction Bulletin, Baker Donelson's post-Katrina contract.
None of which immediately impacts Hartford. The parts of the RFP directed to Hartford should give any takers pause.
For example, in the general work plan, it says Baker Donelson will "Invite key agency officials to take firsthand tours
of pressing needs in the county." County? Connecticut doesn't have a county system of government, and why is
Hartford paying to support the interests of suburbs?
http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=10961&view=print 11/19/2009

5. My Left Nutmeg :: Where Connecticut Dems Scratch That Progressive Itch Page 3 of 3
Hartford isn't. This is just a sloppy presentation. Considering that Baker Donelson's other clients ante up anywhere
from $20,000 to $900,000, according to OpenSecrets.org, one might expect better.
Baker Donelson's general work plan for Hartford gives no insight into Eddie Perez's vision for the remainder of his
term, rather, the plan provides insight into what Baker Donelson imagined it could extract from the federal
government for a prospective client in a pre-Obama world.
The response doesn't talk about environmental hurdles to rebuilding levees or how a new public safety complex would
help to fight crime. Instead, Baker Donelson focuses on transportation dollars from SAFETEALU - the $300 billion pork
barrell surface transportation funding act that expires in September 2009.
Congress will renew SAFETEALU in 2010, funding highways and other pork transit projects like the "Bridge to
Nowhere." Yet neither levees nor public safety complexes are covered in SAFETEALU's surface transportation
description.
Say this for Baker Donelson - it knows where in Congress to look for dough: "Schedule City of Hartford representatives
for appearances before the Appropriations committees and develop written testimony justifying City of Hartford's
projects requests and policy requests, if any." Although its grammar seems a bit off.
One would hope that Johnson, Perez et al push for mass transit and bicycle and pedestrian project funding from
SAFETEALU, rather than federal funding to rebuild the Aetna Viaduct. Yet since ConnDOT has no ready plans for I-84,
will shovel-ready projects get Obama's nod over Hartford's pipe dreams?
Ahhh, don't worry. Baker Donelson covers its ass: "While the federal public policy process often does not lend itself to
predictable timetables, the firm constantly monitors [government actions] which could affect the client's needs."
Caveat emptor. Congress may change its mind. And Ritter said he can't disagree with this criticism.
"We won't know for six months to a year whether it was the right decision," Ritter said. "There may be five people on
Council who agree with you."
http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=10961&view=print 11/19/2009

6. Linda Daschle Page 1 of 2
Linda Daschle
Categories: Politics
z
{ Attended Kansas State University
{ Married Tom Daschle in 1984USA Today: Daschle, lobbyist wife vow to keep careers
separate (June 5, 2001)1
{ Administrator of the FAA from 1993-1997
{ First woman ever to serve as the FAA's acting administratorBakerDonelson.com: Linda H.
Daschle Biography2
{ Received the Amelia Earhart Pioneering Achievement Award in 2003BakerDonelson.com:
Linda H. Daschle Biography2
{ Past clients include American Airlines, Boeing and Lockheed MartinPolitico: Daschle's
wife to open lobbyist firm (November 19, 2008)3
{ Won Miss Kansas pageant in 1976USA Today: Daschle, lobbyist wife vow to keep careers
separate (June 5, 2001)1
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z
The Suffolk Group, LLC
Influential Massachusetts Lobbyists Lobbying, Regulatory, Procurement
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z
Former administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Linda Hall Daschle is among the
most influential and prominent lobbyists for the airline industry.BakerDonelson.com: Linda H.
Daschle Biography2 On December 11, 2008, Linda Daschle's husband, former Senate Majority
Leader Tom Daschle, was nominated by President-Elect Barack Obama to head the Department of
Health and Human Services and the be the director of the White House office of health
reform.CNN: Obama taps Daschle as 'lead architect' of health care plan (December 11, 2008)4
z Careful Career Choices
Although some raised questions about possible ethics violations regarding the Daschle's marriage
and careers, she being a lobbyist and he being a Senator, the Daschles have reportedly been
careful not to cross boundaries.USA Today: Daschle, lobbyist wife vow to keep careers separate
(June 5, 2001)1 When Tom Daschle joined the Senate, Linda Daschle ceased lobbying Senate staff
and only resumed dealings with the Senate after her husband was no longer a member.The Hill:
Linda Daschle to lobby the Senate (December 8, 2004)5 In November of 2008, when her husband's
y ( , ) ,
name was being mentioned in regards to a position in the Obama administration, Linda Daschle
g g p ,
announced that she would be leaving her position as senior public policy adviser at lobbying firm
http://www.mahalo.com/linda-daschle 11/21/2009

7. Linda Daschle Page 2 of 2
Baker Donelson to start her own firm. A the Daschles' new positions, although both political in
As
nature, are in unrelated industries, there is unlikely to be any conflict of interest, according to
Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics.Politico: Daschle's
wife to open lobbyist firm (November 19, 2008)3
http://www.mahalo.com/linda-daschle 11/21/2009

8. Reflective Daschle urges Dems to 'stand up' for their beliefs - TheHill.com Page 1 of 3
Reflective Daschle urges Dems to 'stand up' for
their beliefs
By Albert Eisele - 01/04/05 07:00 PM ET
Former Senate Minority Leader Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) is urging fellow
Democrats to stay true to their party’s principles without bending to tough new
tactics contemplated by Republicans.
In a telephone interview from his home in Northwest Washington on his last
day in office, after a career spanning 26 years in Congress, Daschle
acknowledged that the “obstructionist” label was a factor in his being driven
from office by Republican John Thune.
Former Senate Minority Leader
Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) is
urging fellow Democrats to stay
true to their party’s principles
without bending to tough new
tactics contemplated by
Republicans.
patrick g. ryan
In a telephone interview from
Former Senate Minority Leader Tom
his home in Northwest
Daschle at his Foxhall Road N.W. home
Washington on his last day in
yesterday.
office, after a career spanning
26 years in Congress, Daschle
acknowledged that the
“obstructionist” label was a
factor in his being driven from
office by Republican John
Thune.
But Daschle, who just turned 57, said he hopes fellow Democrats will not back
down as a result of his loss. “I think it would be the wrong lesson to learn from
my experience — somehow not to stand up for what you believe and do the
right thing while you’re here,” he said.
Asked whether the Democrats need to change direction after losing seats in
both the House and Senate, as well as their bid for the White House, Daschle
said it was “essential that we continue to find ways to make it a stronger and
more vigorous party than it has been.” But he added, “I don’t think that it means
morphing into a second Republican Party or some entity that is not reflective of
our philosophical and political approach.”
Daschle made his comments on the eve of a trip to New York City, where he
said he plans to meet with several investment-banking and law firms about job
possibilities.
He also has spoken to a number of colleges, universities and other institutions.
He said he plans to remain involved in South Dakota issues as well, focusing on
rural development and American Indians, while doing some work with his alma
mater, South Dakota State University.
He said he doesn’t plan to become a lobbyist. “I have nothing against those who
lobby, and my wife is a very good one herself,” he said. “One in the family is
probably all we need.” Linda Daschle is a successful lobbyist for Baker
http://thehill.com/homenews/news/11213-reflective-daschle-urges-dems-to-stand-up-for-t... 11/18/2009

9. Reflective Daschle urges Dems to 'stand up' for their beliefs - TheHill.com Page 2 of 3
Donelson.
Daschle warned of the erosion of some of the Senate’s long-standing traditions
and cautioned Republicans not to undertake the so-called “nuclear” option of
forcing an end to Democratic filibusters of judicial nominees.
“I worry about the degradation of the institutional character of the Senate,” he
said. “That will be seen in a dramatic way if we go through what is commonly
referred to as the nuclear option where yet another institutional characteristic so
unique to the United States Senate will be obliterated.”
“I worry about the institution and its demise and what effect it could have on our
democracy in this republic were it to continue to erode as we’ve seen over the
course of the last few years,” he added.
Daschle took some parting shots at House Republicans, whom he has chided
for political extremism over the years, when asked about Republican leadership
efforts to change House ethics rules to protect Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-
Texas).
“I think you see the arrogance of power,” he said, “and with that arrogance
come mistakes that not only are regrettable for the country but ultimately will be
seen as regrettable for the Republican caucus and party. This is exactly what
got Democrats in trouble in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Ironically, we’re seeing
some of the same mistakes being made again.”
Asked for his assessment of President Bush as he begins his second term,
Daschle called Bush a very “likable and disarming individual.” But he said Bush
also is “rigidly ideological and in some ways uncompromisingly partisan, and
when he is in that mode there is little you can do.”
In the face of such tactics, Democrats must stay united, Daschle said, “because
it’s only through our unity that we have any strength. As soon as we lose the
unity, we lose any negotiating ability, and ultimately then, just by picking off a
few Democrats, the president and the Republicans have all they need.”
Daschle called the debate on Social Security reform a “classic example” of a
case where the parties have profound differences. He said that Democrats
should work with Bush to make the system more viable but that the fight against
privatization is an example of where Democrats should stand their ground.
“I think it’s one of those times where Democrats urgently need to be counted
and stand up for something they feel is as important to our country as anything
we’ll be taking up this year.”
Daschle brought up his close personal relationship with former Senate Majority
Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), with whom Daschle worked to help steer the
Senate through President Clinton’s impeachment, the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
and an anthrax attack on Daschle’s office.
“We were unlikely friends, and I don’t know the degree to which today Senator
Lott is even able to acknowledge that friendship, but I think it’s really what got
us through these crises we faced when we were both leaders.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/news/11213-reflective-daschle-urges-dems-to-stand-up-for-t... 11/18/2009

10. Reflective Daschle urges Dems to 'stand up' for their beliefs - TheHill.com Page 3 of 3
But he was less forthcoming when asked to assess Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-
Tenn.). “Senator Frist is a good leader, too. He has a different style. I had a
good working relationship with him as well.”
On the war in Iraq, which he and most Senate Democrats initially supported,
Daschle said the situation “is increasingly looking like a quagmire. I think that it’s
very, very difficult to see how we extricate ourselves from Iraq in the near
future.”
Asked how he would like to be remembered, Daschle replied, “I guess if I can
be remembered for anything, it would be that I was a good leader and that I
reflected well on the people of my state in leadership capacity as well as my role
as a United States senator. If that could be generally acknowledged, I guess I
would feel satisfied.”
Daschle predicted that yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony for new members,
which he didn’t attend, would be “bittersweet.” He put his visiting mother on a
plane back to Aberdeen, S.D., on Monday and said she advised him to “just
keep looking forward.”
“I think that’s about as good a piece of advice as one can have,” he said.
http://thehill.com/homenews/news/11213-reflective-daschle-urges-dems-to-stand-up-for-t... 11/18/2009