Obama’s Choice for Labor Secretary Said to Be Justice’s Perez

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Bloomberg

By Hans Nichols

President Barack Obama is close to choosing Thomas Perez, currently the assistant U.S. attorney general for civil rights, to be his next labor secretary, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Perez would replace Hilda Solis and ensure that the Labor Department was led by another Hispanic, according to the people, who requested anonymity to discuss personnel matters that haven’t been announced.

As Obama fills out his second-term cabinet, a process that began in January with his announcement of three white males for the top positions at the Central Intelligence Agency, State Department and Defense Department, White House officials are working to ensure that his cabinet reflects the coalition of Latinos, blacks and women that helped re-elect him, said the people.

Matt Lehrich, a White House spokesman, declined to comment. Dena Iverson, a Justice Department spokeswoman, also declined to comment on the possible nomination.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-08/obama-s-choice-for-labor-secretary-said-to-be-justice-s-perez.html

[L0oniX]

1. So uhm ...Walmart CEO is out of the question now?

[Omaha Steve]

2. Wrong office

She was nominated for Office of Management and Budget.

[L0oniX]

3. Wasn't she from the foundation?

[Iliyah]

4. The GOPpers will pass her

but filibuster Perez. Wrong last name and pro-workers, something that the GOP party hates.

[AllyCat]

5. Someone else to fade into the woodwork and not defend labor?

[Arkana]

6. Did you actually read the article? The dude sounds

like he's got some labor chops to me.

[Cha]

8. I'm guessing not.. just another cheap pot shot.

[Cha]

7. Here's some background on Thomas Perez from your link, Steve..

Perez, 51, has headed the civil rights division at the Justice Department since 2009. He was formerly secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, which enforces workplace safety laws and wage and hour regulations as well as consumer-protection laws.

Before that, Perez was a member of the county council in Montgomery County, a suburb of Washington. He was the first Hispanic elected to the council, where he served from 2002 to 2005, including a one-year stint as its president. He has a law degree from Harvard University and a degree in international relations and political science from Brown University.

Nominating a Hispanic lawyer to lead the Labor Department may signal an increased emphasis by the Obama administration on protecting the wages of workers, said Jared Bernstein, a former economic adviser to Vice President Joe Biden.

“Given his background, this may be about beefing up the wage and hour division at labor, which is incredibly important in terms of pushing back against wage theft and helping to implement immigration reform,” Bernstein said.

thanks Steve