Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 20, 1993 TAG: 9301200225
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
COMMITTEES BACK 7 FOR CABINET
Seven of President-elect Bill Clinton's Cabinet choices cleared committees on Tuesday and Senate leaders made plans to confirm at least a few key officials within hours of today's inauguration of the new president.Senate committees voted approval for Warren Christopher as Clinton's secretary of state, Donna Shalala to head the Health and Human Services Department, Richard Riley as education secretary, Robert Reich as labor secretary, Rep. Mike Espy, D-Miss., as agriculture secretary, Hazel O'Leary as energy secretary and Mickey Kantor to become U.S. trade representative.
In addition, Carol Browner was cleared for Environmental Protection Agency administrator and Roger Altman was approved as deputy secretary of the Treasury, a position below Cabinet level.
Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen was approved previously by the Finance Committee and endorsement of Defense Secretary-designate Les Aspin was slated for today.
Officials said final details on the appointees to be confirmed by the full Senate today were still being sorted out.
Others Clinton Cabinet nominees who faced hearings Tuesday were Bruce Babbitt, named to head the Interior Department; Hazel O'Leary, tapped for energy secretary; and Zoe Baird, nominated for attorney general.
Babbitt was questioned closely on his ties to environmental groups. One conservative Republican warned he risked "war on the horizon."
Members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee were looking for assurances that Babbitt would strike a balance between environmentalists, park users and the concerns of miners, ranchers and timber companies.
"I am not enthusiastic about what I see coming down the road," said Sen. Malcolm Wallop, R-Wyo., noting that Babbitt used to head the League of Conservation Voters.
Babbitt has said he favors moving land policy away from "multiple use" because of concerns that it unfairly favored mining, timber, and oil and gas industries.
The former Arizona governor said he would balance the needs of industry with the need to protect the land for future generations.
O'Leary pledged to encourage fuel-conservation programs: "I have learned first-hand how much efficiency and conservation efforts can reduce reliance on foreign oil."
Christopher's vote from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was 19-0, although Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, the ranking Republican on the panel, voiced reservations. "He's a personable gentleman, but nice guys are a dime a dozen," Helms said.
Kantor promised to look into all the problems raised by the senators but avoided making any commitments on how the new administration would act.