California Tries To Preserve Its Clout
LOS ANGELES (AllPolitics, Dec. 17) -- With the election over and their 54 electoral votes delivered, California's Democratic lawmakers are concerned that their state may now be neglected by the White House. They want President Bill Clinton to remember Californians when Deciding top administration posts.
Since the election, two letters signed by many of the state's Democratic House members have been sent to Clinton. "As you choose your second-term administration and establish a policy agenda, we urge you to maintain your commitment to our state," the Dec. 6 letter read.
"Regions of California are still mired in a recession, and the entire state is trying to respond to unprecedented cuts in military spending, cuts much deeper than the national average," the letter continued.
The legislators are also pushing the candidacy of University of California, Berkeley Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien for the open slot of energy secretary. If nominated and confirmed, Tien would be the first Asian American to serve in the Cabinet.
Two other Californians are under consideration for adminstration positions: Rep. Esteban Torres (D-Calif.) is on the short list for labor secretary and former Berkeley professor Janet Yellen has been mentioned as a new member of Clinton's economic team.
Over the president's first term, at least 73 influential Californians held high-level administration positions. Those ranks include White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor, Secretary of Defense William Perry and Council of Economic Advisors head Laura d'Andrea Tyson.
But with so many now leaving for the private sector, many expect California to have less clout than it has enjoyed. White House aides have tried to allay those fears.
A senior administration official told The Los Angeles Times, "There are still many, many Californians in very important roles throughout the administration."
"John Garamendi is deputy secretary of interior," the official said, "and there are lots of others whose names you don't know who are doing very important work. Just as important, the entire administration is now sensitized to California and Californians."