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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]