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JANUARY 9, 2001

With Senate confirmation hearings set to begin shortly, attacks on President-elect George W. Bush's Cabinet nominations are stepping up.

Of Bush's choices, the latest debate involves his pick for Secretary of Labor who is already facing fire from labor and civil rights groups. Linda Chavez, a Hispanic woman born in New Mexico, housed a Guatemalan illegal immigrant and reportedly employed her, paying her in cash for helping out with household chores.

If true, Chavez's early 1990s actions could have violated federal law and could lead to a defeat of her nomination. But so far, Bush is standing by his choice and said he only learned of the issue this past weekend.

"I haven't changed my mind, still got the same opinion that I had a couple of hours ago about Linda Chavez," said Bush on Monday. "I think she'll be a fine Secretary of Labor."

"Any time new information comes up, we'll review all the facts on any nominee," he added.

Chavez isn't the only nominee facing critical review, however. Civil and abortion rights groups have targeted the conservative views of John Ashcroft, Bush's pick to be Attorney General, for defeat while environmental groups are opposing the confirmation of former Colorado Attorney General Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior.

"Gale Norton would be a natural disaster as Interior Secretary," said Carl Pope, executive director for the Sierra Club. "Norton is the oil, mining and timber industry's choice. She favors increasing the commercial and environmentally destructive development of our national parks, forests, and wild lands."

For Indian Country, Norton's position is key. She would oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and US Fish and Wildlife -- agencies with significant involvement in Indian affairs. Some of the issues under her jurisdiction would include natural resource management, repatriation, and gaming.

Norton's confirmation is set to begin January 18. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will conduct the hearing, which could be lead by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.Mex), the temporary chairman and ranking Democrat.

Although he had a short meeting with Norton last week, Bingaman himself has yet to make public his position on her nomination. But the two may already have some conflicts. While Norton has questioned some of the public lands designations made by the Clinton administration, Bingaman successfully urged Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt to recommend the Tent Rocks in New Mexico become a national monument.

"I will continue to familiarize myself with her record and views on the important stewardship responsibilities of the Department of the Interior," said Bingaman.

Tribes in Bingaman's state would be among the many affected by Norton's confirmation. Parts of the Navajo Nation, the largest reservation in the country, fall in New Mexico. The state is also home to 19 Pueblos, the Jicarilla Apache, and the Mescalero Apache tribes.

Relevant Links;
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - www.senate.gov/~energy
Senator Jeff Bingaman - www.senate.gov/~bingaman

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