The Commerce shuffle

Does anyone want to be Secretary of Commerce? First Bill Richardson stepped aside under a cloud. Today, nominee #2 Judd Gregg (about whom Cymie and I blogged earlier) withdrew his name, saying he disagreed too strongly with President Obama to take the position.

Still, fans of the Department’s environmental arm, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, can take heart. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing this morning (webcast here) on the nomination of Jane Lubchenco to take over NOAA’s helm. Lubchenco has been a MacArthur Foundation “genuis” grantee, a member of the Pew Oceans Commission, a former president of the Ecological Society of America, and one of the founders of the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program. Even if the Department doesn’t get a Secretary for some time, NOAA will be in good hands.

Aldo Leopold Leadership Program, Bill Richardson, Department of Commerce, Ecological Society of America, Jane Lubchenco, Judd Gregg, Pew Oceans Commission