Final Obama Cabinet pick worries Dems

President-elect Obama put the finishing touches on his Cabinet Friday, announcing his nominations for secretaries of labor and transportation, as well as his pick for U.S. trade representative, which has raised concerns from some allies.

Obama announced that Reps. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) and Ray LaHood (Ill.), a Republican, will be his labor and transportation secretaries, respectively.

{mosads}But the pick of former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk to be trade representative is already raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill and among labor leaders.

Congressional Democrats and labor leaders quickly wondered aloud whether Kirk shares their views on free trade agreements.

Rep. Michael Michaud (D-Maine), co-founder of the House Trade Working Group and an opponent of free trade agreements, said in a release Friday afternoon that he is “deeply concerned” about Kirk’s nomination.

“I am deeply concerned about the choice of Ron Kirk because his past trade policy positions do not reflect the views of most Americans,” Michaud said. “They also do not reflect the reform agenda that [Obama] has pledged to an American public clamoring for a new direction on trade.”

Specifically, Michaud criticized comments Kirk has made hailing the “success” of the North America Free Trade Agreement and calling for its expansion.

Rep. Phil Hare, a Democrat from Obama’s delegation in Illinois, also said he had “concerns” about Kirk’s support for NAFTA and trade with China. He singled out Kirk’s statement that he wanted to make Dallas the capital city of NAFTA, and said Galesburg, Ill., had lost 1,600 jobs to Mexico because of the trade deal.

“The next USTR must learn from the mistakes of the past and forge a new direction on trade that benefits all Americans,” Hare said in a statement.

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), a committee chairman and close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), issued a cautious statement. He congratulated Kirk, and said, “I hope that he will champion the kind of responsible trade policies that give all workers a real shot at good jobs and put us on the path towards a more prosperous, green and sustainable future.”

In nominating Kirk, Obama at a Chicago press conference said he believes that “any trade agreement we sign must be written not just with the interest of big corporations in mind, but with the interests of our whole nation and our workers at heart.”

“Ron Kirk understands this better than just about anybody,” Obama said. “As mayor of Dallas, Ron helped steer one of the largest economies. He’s seen the promise of trade, but also its pitfalls, and he knows there is nothing inconsistent about standing up for free trade and standing up for American workers.”

Speaking on trade, Kirk said that he has seen “both its benefits and its costs.”

“But like the [president-elect], I believe that trade can help us create jobs at home and encourage development abroad,” Kirk said. “And like President-elect Obama, I believe a values-driven agenda that stays true to our commitment to America’s workers and environmental sustainability is not only consistent with a pro-trade agenda, but it’s also necessary for its success.”

In his remarks, Obama commented on President Bush’s decision Friday morning to provide more than $14 billion in loans to the auto companies, saying “the American people’s patience is running out.”

“The auto companies must not squander this chance to reform bad management practices and begin the long-term restructuring that is absolutely necessary to save this critical industry and the millions of American jobs that depend on it, while also creating the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow,” Obama said.

Obama emphasized that his goal of creating 2.5 million jobs will be expensive, but he plans to confront the national deficit once the economy returns to sure footing.