Peña Gets Senate Nod
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 12) -- Federico Peña was confirmed by the Senate as energy secretary today on a 99-1 vote, as members of the Senate put aside a controversy over disposal of nuclear waste. Peña, former mayor of Denver, served as Bill Clinton's transportation secretary during the president's first term. The lone "no" vote was cast by Sen. Rod Grams (R-Minn.), who questioned Peña's leadership in the fight over where to store spent nuclear fuel rods stored at civilian power plants. Only two Clinton appointees await confirmation: Anthony Lake as CIA director and Alexis Herman as labor secretary.
Muhammad Stays At The High Court
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 12) -- Since 1935, a sculpture of the Muslim prophet Muhammad has surveyed the Supreme Court chamber from a marble frieze. And that's where it will stay, despite the protests of a Muslim group that finds the image offensive. In a letter released today, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist has told the Council on American-Islamic Relations that the frieze will remain as is, but court materials that describe the statute will be rewritten. The Muslim group said it recognized the artwork's intent, but Muslims "are sensitive to created images of the Prophet Muhammad." Court literature will be rewritten to refer to Muhammad as the prophet of Islam rather than its founder. Other historic lawgivers in the frieze include Moses, Confucius, Napoleon and Chief Justice John Marshall.