I received this by e-mail -- it has been shortened some -- if you want the
entire article, check the website.
Jane Clark
===========
The New York Times
Bush Announces Choices to Fill Four Cabinet Posts
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/29/politics/29CND-CABINET.html
December 29, 2000
By DAVID STOUT
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 President-elect George W. Bush announced four
more choices for his cabinet today, the best-known being Tommy
Thompson, the four-term Republican governor of Wisconsin, as
Secretary of Health and Human Services. But Mr. Bush's choice of
former Colorado Attorney General Gale Norton as Interior Secretary
seemed likely to cause the most spirited confirmation hearings of
the four. <snip>
But Ms. Norton's confirmation is even more likely to be fiercely
debated. Some of the views she has expressed, while welcome to many
Westerners and conservatives, are anathema to environmental groups. <snip>
Mr. Bush called Ms. Norton "a leader who will respect the land and
honor our national commitment to conservation" and a person who has
"a reputation for building consensus on divisive issues."
"In my administration, she'll have a clear charge," Mr. Bush said.
"We will restore our national parks system. We will develop
partnerships with states and local governments and private citizens
to conserve our lands and resources and to protect the endangered
species of America. We will find ways to develop our nation's
resources in a balanced and an environmentally friendly way."
Ms. Norton spoke of her commitment to protect the environment. "I
welcome the opportunity to work with President-elect Bush to
preserve our wonderful, national treasures, to restore endangered
species, and to help Americans enjoy the great outdoors," she said.
Despite those words, Ms. Norton, an associate solicitor for the
Interior Department when Mr. Bush's father was president, is
certain to be sharply questioned in the Senate. She has views in
line with many Westerners who feel that the federal government runs
roughshod over their property rights in the name of environmental
protection.
She was a strong advocate of a Colorado law that allows companies
to conduct voluntary audits on their compliance with environmental
standards, giving them immunity from fines and litigation if they
report and correct their own violations. The federal Environmental
Protection Agency has objected to these laws.
Another potentially explosive issue arose when Ms. Norton was
asked today about her views on drilling for oil in the Alaska
National Wildlife Reserve. "That is an issue that we will have to
examine as part of the confirmation hearings," she said. "It is not
appropriate for me to comment at this point." <snip>
==========================
Also from an AP story>>>>>>>>>
Norton was elected the first woman attorney general of Colorado in 1990,
and
held the job for eight years. She had previously held staff jobs in the
interior and agriculture departments in Washington.
''We will find ways to develop our nation's resources in a balanced and an
environmentally friendly way,'' Bush said in appointing her.
He advocates oil and gas exploration in areas environmentalists want off
limits to drilling, and while she reserved detailed discussion for her
confirmation hearing, Norton said she supports his positions.
She noted that Bush believes ''we should explore opening the Arctic
National
Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas exploration,'' to seek what may be huge
amounts of oil in the area.
''I do support the president in the positions that he has taken during his
campaign,'' she said.
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