I'll Fight for 'Hardworking Families': Solis

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama announced his final Cabinet choices today, making official what insiders have hinted at for a week, the Washington Post reports. Hilda Solis will be the nominee for labor secretary, Ron Kirk for trade representative, and Republican Ray LaHood for transportation. Solis appears to be the lightning rod, as union officials praised the appointment and foes said she would “toe the line for union bosses.” More»

Granholm, Sebelius also rumored picks

(NEWSER) - A gay union leader is on the shortlist for Barack Obama's secretary of labor, the Wall Street Journal reports. Democratic officials have confirmed that Mary Beth Maxwell—who would become the first openly gay Cabinet member in American history if chosen—is being vetted for the position, along with Govs. Jennifer Granholm and Kathleen Sebelius, of Michigan and Kansas, respectively. More»

Former energy CEO John Bryson picked to head Dept. of Commerce

(AP) - President Obama will nominate businessman John Bryson to lead the Commerce Department, a White House official said today. Bryson's appointment brings another private sector player into an administration that has been making a concerted effort to improve its relationship with the business community. Bryson is a former chairman and chief executive officer of Edison International, a California-based energy company. He also has an extensive background in environmental issues, having co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council and served on a United Nations advisory group on energy and climate change. More»

The JPMorgan Chase exec has pro-business reputation

(NEWSER) - President Obama is considering bringing on Clinton-era Commerce Secretary William Daley as his new chief of staff, or slotting him into some other high-level White House job, sources tell the Wall Street Journal . The appointment would send a powerful message to the business world, where Daley, a champion of free trade, is seen as an ally. Daley was a close adviser to Obama during his presidential campaign, and has long been considered a potential hire for him. More»

Clinton a strong secretary, but not yet administration's voice

(NEWSER) - Ask Hillary Clinton or her staff about President Obama and they’ll praise him and tell you the relationship between the two really is strong. But the tensions between the State Department and White House are starting to show, writes Joe Klein . The president’s foreign policy hasn’t yet yielded results, and on her recent Pakistan trip, Clinton gave the first hints that she’d like to assert her independence—and move beyond what Klein calls “the Rodney King ‘Can’t we all just get along?’ phase.” More»