CQ TODAY PRINT EDITION
Feb. 2, 2009 – 9:27 p.m.
Gregg Voted to Kill Commerce Before He Agreed to Lead It
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
President Obama’s new candidate to run the Commerce Department voted in favor of abolishing the agency as a member of the Budget Committee and on the Senate floor in 1995.
Sen. Judd Gregg , R-N.H., whose nomination was expected to be announced Tuesday, also worked in the Senate to trim the department’s budget as head of the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee.
Gregg’s 1995 votes were cast for the fiscal 1996 budget resolution, a nonbinding blueprint that outlined the GOP’s fiscal priorities after Republicans won full control of Congress for the first time in 40 years.
The Senate version of the controversial measure envisioned spending cuts of more than $960 billion, almost half of it from Medicare and Medicaid. Democratic efforts to amend it were uniformly rebuked by a united GOP majority on the Budget Committee.
Ultimately, the Commerce Department survived, and Gregg has since shown more interest than most of his Republican colleagues in funding some of its agencies, particularly the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Gregg also fought President Bill Clinton’s efforts to increase funding for the Commerce Department to administer the 2000 census. Indeed, Gregg’s commitment to basic functions of the department has been questioned at times.
“He was generally pretty harsh on them and not really interested in their programs, especially the commerce side of things,” said a Democratic appropriations aide.
The aide also called Gregg “really smart and hard-working” and said he would work well within Obama’s Cabinet.
It is not unprecedented for a lawmaker who supported abolishing a Cabinet department to take its helm. In 2001, the recently defeated Sen. Spencer Abraham, R‑Mich., was confirmed to run the Energy Department even though he had once cosponsored legislation to eliminate it.
Still, even some Republicans are surprised by Gregg’s apparent enthusiasm for the job. “I guess if you can’t destroy it, go be in charge of it,” said a Senate Republican aide.
Neither Gregg’s office nor the White House replied to requests for comment.
Comments
Come to think of it, much of Commerce's functions can be transferred to Treasury, just as bulk of Energy's functions to Interior. Therefore, why not "destroy" both, or at least meld the two and make a single, slimmed-down Energy $ Industry?
My main worry about Gregg is his possible (probable?) adverse impact on the 2010 Census, which is a key source of data for social scientists as well as for redrawing boundaries of congressional and state legislatures' districts. I wonder if Obama considered this.
Come to think of it, you don't know what you are talking about. 70 percent of DOC is an agency that protects the nations oceanic resources.
Maybe Obama wants to get rid of it!
Hey, what if the Drug Enforcement Administration went up in smoke? Dept. of Agriculture and Health, Education, Welfare can absorb the budget of the various failed wars. ith that kind of money, Universal free education, healthcare can be funded by cannabis tax revenue. Tobacco addicts will not be jailed, but offered treatment. Dignity over dogma.
@nicholas - Because that would streamline bureaucracy. What part of "hopeandchange" did you not understand? :-) We
why dont we just kill the whole thing and start over...keep our own money...release ourselves from debt...start completely over no more politics, no more bailouts, no more big government screwing up the world they didnt create...i say we bring out the guillotine again and start chopin off heads...we can start with the bankers
Nicholas, STOP IT! STOP! You are making too much sense.
This is a prime example of how BOTH parties are party to the destruction of the USA. Take a step back no matter what side you voted for and look at what we have, NOTHING!! You can lay the blame at the feet of both parties without even debating.
The White House is indeed a circus now. Obama will bring the USA to her knees.
Is this a ploy to replace another republican Senator with a Democrat then kill the commerce Department getting rid of Gregg? Obama is scum.
Senator Gregg is A " Total Disgrace to the human race
While they're at it why not get rid of the Dept. of Education, Dept. of Commerce, and the Dept. of Energy. They are useless. Get that money and use it to pay down debt. Oh, I know I'm dreaming because the demoRATS are in office and all they want to do is grow government and make us into France of the west.
Republicans have done a pretty good job destroying government agencies when they've been in charge. It's unfortunate that Obama's conservative centrism sees a need to allow the destroyers more power.
Don't have such reasonable expectations.
What a great opportunity for Judd to practice what he preached.
another example of how there is no difference between Reps and Dems. The quote at the end is so true: "I guess if you can't destroy it, go be in charge of it"... So if Americans won't take this country back from the politicians, then become a politician and take from Americans. That is what I am learning. I think I will run for office and LEGALLY steal from the idiots of this country....they don't care.
Be realistic Nicholas, cant close anything down! Do you know the US Government still produces/stores worlds biggest supply Helium gas for the airship fleet at a cost of over $100m a year?
Why not kill it now?
Money talks! Gregg has thrown in the towel and jumped in the money sewer. Everyone in Obama's administration, including Obama, are in it for the $$ they'll earn later. When they all found out Clinton has earned over half a billion since leavinig office they all want in on the action! Don't jump off a bridge when you all learn Obama is a self-serving jackal. Why else would someone who promised change replay the Clinton power machine? It's the money fools! The only change Obama is concerned with is how much will be in his pocket after his term is over. Dumb Americans. In the meantime, you all can chant "Obama, Obama, yes we can, yes we can. " When will people figure it out? It's all about money? Ted Stevens is going to jail for his "misunderstanding" and "just a thing among friends" but Daschle won't go, just like Geitner and nether will any others. Dumb, dumb people vote for really smart crooks everytime.
Judd Gregg and Barak Obama are friends from the senate thats way Judd decided to become commerce sec. The reason why Barak Obama won his presidency was because he studied the DVD Presidential Debates Gone Wild. Seet yourself at www.presidentialdebates.tv
Hahahahahahahahaha.... The government slim down? That'll never happen.
If this is the case, then Gregg is the perfect person for the job. He can start by killing the Department as his first order of business. I would like to see the same type of people at the head of the other senseless departments... ie Department of Education, Agriculture, etc...
Sen. Gregg is a disgrace. To be Pro-Life but give the pro-choice party a filibuster-proof supermajority is shameful.
Do you think Obama really wants this guy to lead the agency, or does he want another democratic Governor to be able to name a Senator? Let's see, if the New Hampshire Governor chooses a fellow democrat, that would give the dems...... wow, 60 seats in the senate. Stunningly obvious.....
Yep. Just another liberal Republican from the Northeast turning to the dark side. Let's see who takes his place in the Democrat controlled Senate.
Obama will have his fillibuster proof senate when the govenor of N.H. renigs on Obama's promise that a republican will replace Gregg. Or they will find a "republican" rino that will side with the dems on every issue. Out of flustration Gregg will resign so Obama will have his super majority and be rid of one less republian in the Senate. He will then nominate another tax cheate to his inner circle.
Did the Commerce Department survive due to a Bill Clinton veto?
Why is the NOAA under the Dept of Commerce?
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING VETTING PROCESS BY THE INEXPERIENCED OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
If he voted to eliminate it, he sounds like the perfect guy to run it. All the Commerce Dept does is reduce commerce.
Are the Obama administration even vetting these appointees at all?
Sen. Gregg betrays the Republican base if he accepts this position and allows his governor to appoint a Democrat to fill his Senate seat thus getting them much closer to the 60 seats they need to shut the Republicans out completely. It's no wonder that these RINOs have brought the "grand old Party" down in disgrace!
Who cares if he likes the commerce department!!! Why is a Republican senator needed in future battles against the Dems joining them ? So the Governor of NH can appoint a Dem as Senator & give the Dems 60 seats in a filibuster proof Congress. What a jerkoff!!!! He should tell them to f***off, I know what your trying to pull wiseguys.
More important, and unmentioned at ALL in this article, is that t gives NH Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, a chance to appoint a Democrat senator and give the Obama White House a filibuster-proof command of that body. Was ANYONE awake in high school civics classes for the "checks and balances" talk?
The positions are not necessarily contradictory. A person could both (A) believe that the entire agency is a waste of money and intervention that the government should not provide, and also (B) want to lead the agency so as to minimize its impact on the free markets. But he will not do (B) because power corrupts.
Mr. Ohh....Great comment....but that would be too simple, too smart and makes too much common sense. Oh! It would save too much money too.
Bet there won't be any Republican opposition to Gregg's nomination or confirmation..and of course the DEMOCRAT's do what ever they are told to do, by the GOP...(got blackmail..?)
Yeah, here is a comment. Who cares what he voted for 14 years ago. My guess is that things changed since then.
I would have put Barney Frank or Chris Dodd in charge. They killed the econmomy, and with their help so goes commerce!
I can't believe Gregg is so stupid as to be wooed out of congress and hand the dems their majority
If anything, NOAA needs more funding...afterall they are the only gov't agency that consistently acts quickly enough to save lives and property.
DOE, 16,000 Fed jobs, 100,000 contractors and we are still just as dependent on foreign oil as when the Dept. was created in 1977 for the pupose of lessoning our dependence on... So now they want to Nationalize Banks??? You've got to be freakin kidding me!! Here also is another play directly from Soetoros book... Take a Rep. Senator out of the Senate and replace him with a Dem. and whalah, instant super majority!! Chicago politics at its best (ARRRGGHHHH).
I don't want the Department of the Interior to be in charge of the country's nuclear weapons ... sorry, they can't even properly manage themselves. Leave Energy alone.
Because Mr. Ohh, the government employee unions, who are the absolute #1 constituency on the list of all the special interests groups that make up the Bolshevik Party, would NEVER allow that. If anything, these unions make sure that as many phony government make-work (bureaucratic) jobs exist as possible. Therefore, look for more departments to be created, not eliminated. Bank on it!
Senator Judd Gregg had a $5 million investment with Bank Of America while he was creating the TARP program to bail out the banks. opensecrets.org
Nicholas J B Ohh, how dare you recommend a smaller government, fiscally responsible government. We must grow the government by increasing taxes and expanding departments and programs; that is the only way to resolve this current crisis - well that and printing more money.
maybe he'll be successful this time.
The purpose of appointing Gregg is to replace another seat in the Senate with a Democrat. This would - pending outcomes in MN, etc. - possibly get the Democrats 60 seats and thus filibuster proof. If the Republicans were smart - which they clearly aren't - they'd do what they could to derail this apparent nomination.
Looks like President Obama understands that you have to have at least one person in his cabinet who has paid their taxes, even if he has to resort to looking at the pool of Republican eligibles.
In reply to Nicholas J B Ohh, because that would make a good deal of sense and eliminate waste and a certain amount of government inefficiency. But we couldn't have that, because then we would be eliminating redundant government jobs, and we can't have that, can we? The government doesn't operate like a private business, which has to decrease it's expenses or go out of business. The government's never ending zeal is to enlarge, increase, and consume your tax dollars, with no incentive other than concerned citizens to constrain it's parasitism.
PHONY......... they're all phonies...... Washington in the last 2 weeks is beginning to smell like dead fish 3 days in the sun............... can't wait for 2010
The hypocracy won't end. We got money blowing out our ***. Why not start the department of tax cheats and liars. The pigs could wallow there while they figure how to piss away more honest money.
Obama ain't slimming anything down
TO: Senator Judd Gregg, President Obama's offer to you for Secretary of Commerce is a "Trojan Horse" designed to capture your Senate seat and appoint a Democrat in your place. A back door theft to give him another Democrat in the Senate and make it fillibuster fullproof. With all the other other Democrats that he could appoint for the position he wants to choose a Republilcan. Don't you think there is a political reason for that, or is your ego too easily smoothed and flattere to not see through this sham. I understand there is some sort of loose agreement that the Democrat governor will choose someone who "will affiliate with Republicans." That does not say a Republican, it sounds like Republican lite, in other words a Democrat. No matter what he says, once you resign all bets are off and he can do as he wants. Guess what that will be especially with a little White House arm twisting.You don' think that this whole thing was orchistrated because he thinks you would be the best man for the job. Most likely he never heard of you before an advisor whispered a "plan" in his ear. Your tenure as Commerce Secretary will be a short one. Once you have outlived your usefulness you will be disgarded. Probably your reputadion will also be slandered/demonized at the same time as they will need an excuse to dump you.A reasonable insightful man ought to see this coming. I hope you make the right decision and declline his offer, or make your plans what you will do in retirement as it will be coming within one year of accepting Obama's offer.
Just another example of politicians in the business of "politics" and not in the business of "public service". Republican and Democrat representatives both share this characteristic. It is time to have self made business people that have actually started, grown, and sustained businesses to be in control. They truly understand government impedements to economics and care about removing them. It is also time for term limits.
HA! "slim down" is code in that damned town for "only 15 times the size of the former separate agencies". See Homeland Security fiasco.
IMHO you could get rid of 40-50% of the federal government and (assuming you removed the right parts) it would still be able to fulfill it's constitutional responsibilities (which it's not doing now). Fire them all.
Mr. Ohh is onto something. Might I suggest a minor modification: take the charter of Commerce and Energy in unbound paper, throw them against a sturdy ceiling, and transfer to Treasury all those that stick to the ceiling. So far as one can discern, the department of Energy would be more honestly relabeled the department of No-Energy, and Commerce isn't much better. Try as you might, you will find not one overt justification for their existence anywhere in the body of the Constitution. The only mention of commerce in the Constitution was explicitly intended to prevent the States from restricting the free flow of goods across State boundaries, which hardly deserves a Federal bureaucracy. v/r, -- Bud
So I would hope that his first act as Commerce Secretary would be to dissolve the organization.
Get rid of a government agency?! Are you crazy?! You should be ashamed of yourself...Sheesh...
Blah, Blah, Blah, a Republican, Blah Juddd Greggg is like 95% of Obamabots in the cabinet. He is an active supporter of the cap and trade scam. He was chosen to help push through the comprehensive climate change bill. Obama has always been a part of that lobby since his Joyce Foundation days.
Good! Now, he'll get his chance. After that, put him at the Education Department to kill that one. Judd Gregg could be the most important man in the Obama Administration, if they give him his head.
The Dept. of Commerce SHOULD be abolished, along with Energy, Education, Interior, Agriculture, Health & Human Services, Homeland Security, Labor and Transportation. Read article 1, section of the Constitution. Then read the 10th amendment. The conclusion is obvious.
If this guy goes to Commerce I consider him a traitor. He will weaken the Senate Republicans more than they already are and N.H. will bring in a democrat. He knows this. I called his office last week and told his young worker that if he takes this job then he is indeed a traitor and it should be considered a treasonous act. Brilliant move on Obama's part. He's not interested in bi-partisanship, but only interested in weakening the GOP. Gregg should know this and is only doing this for his own special interests, certainly not putting his country first is he? We conservatives are indeed screwed
It would not surprise me if Obama stopped funding it after Gregg is confirmed. That way their he got rid of a republican and the democratic governor will most likely select a democrat to give the senate a super majority. This entire process is the biggest joke I have ever seen.
Good to see that Judd Gregg can make the transition from wanting to close it down to now wanting to head it. Love those strong convitctions. Obasm must know that Gregg's replacement in the Senate will not win in 2010 or whenever Gregg's term is up. Way to go Judd for letting all of us Republicans in the state down, for your own advancement/ Ego. How about taking the post and then fighting to shut it down, you could get hero status and then come back to the state and we would re-elect you. That would be TRUE LEADERSHIP in an era of NO LEADERSHIP.
Show the video of the jetliner hitting the pentagon and we might start believing a word coming out of Washington....we've been had
What we had were "children" (according to some) in the Bush admin who kept us safe. Now we have "adults" (according to some) in the Obama admin ripping us off. Not much progress, here.
What an impossible job. How can you do anything about commerce with Congress, the Fed and the Treasury constantly creating money and tossing it all about? Perhaps Obama is trying to keep New Hampshire from seceding now that they are talking war. http://jessescrossroadscafe.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-hampshire-throws-down-gauntlet-to.html
John Bolton wanted to disband the UN, then became the US Representative to it. Reagan said government is the problem immediately after becoming the leader of it. So, there is precedent.
POST A COMMENT
Oops! The following errors must be addressed: