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Locke on the road to Cabinet confirmation after hearing

Former governor would be first secretary from state since '70s

By Les Blumenthal | McClatchy Newspapers • Published March 19, 2009

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WASHINGTON – Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke appeared headed for easy confirmation as the nation's 36th commerce secretary after sailing through a Senate committee hearing Wednesday.

Photo Gallery:

Gov. Gary Locke, through the years

Locke sought to dampen Republican concerns about White House political interference in the 2010 census. He also fielded a barrage of questions and comments about digital television, broadband computer connections and issues ranging from Alaska's Denali Commission to the $40 billion contr act for Air Force refueling tankers to weather modification.

Locke was President Barack Obama's third choice for the post. The other two, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Sen. Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican, withdrew. If confirmed, Locke would be the first Cabinet secretary from Washington state since the Carter administration in the 1970s.

Locke was nominated only three weeks ago. Compared with other Obama nominations, his has moved quickly.

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said his panel could vote on the nomination as early as today if Locke were able to answer written questions from the members.

None of the Republicans on the committee indicated he or she would vote against Locke.

Rockefeller said he and Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the panel's top Republican, had reviewed Locke's background check done by the FBI and his financial statements.

"They were clean," Rockefeller said.

"Boring would be a better word," Hutchison said.

Locke was introduced by Washington state's two senators, Democrats Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. Both had served in the Washington state Legislature with him.

"I have known Gary Locke for more than 20 years," Cantwell said. "And I can say to my colleagues Gov. Locke is the right man for the job."

Murray pointed out that while most people think the job of commerce secretary is simply to represent U.S. business, it is much more.

According to Murray, a former chairman of the committee used to joke that the commerce secretary "always comes in thinking he will be the head of business. And then he finds out that's he's really the head fisherman."

Commerce agencies

Roughly half of the department's budget is spent on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which regulates the nation's fisheries, oversees the nation's oceans policies and includes, among other agencies, the National Weather Service.

In addition, the department includes the Census Bureau, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the International Trade Administration.

Locke sought to quell Republican concerns that the administration wanted to politicize the 2010 census count by having the director of the Census Bureau report to top White House officials rather than the commerce secretary.

Locke made clear that he would be in charge and ruled out using "statistical sampling" to ensure that minorities won't be undercounted.

"It is my understanding there are no plans in the Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau to use statistical sampling," Locke said.

Coming from the nation's most trade-dependent state, Locke said he believed in fair trade, not just free trade. He also said he would enforce the provisions in existing and any new agreements.

"It is pointless to negotiate complex trade agreements if we don't enforce them," Locke said.