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MARCH 15, 2001

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton on Wednesday spoke to a group of old friends but being among the nation's Attorneys General didn't result in a message all that different from the one she has consistently delivered in recent weeks.

"As an Attorney General, and now at the Department of Interior, I work hard to build an honest line of communication among all levels of government, environmentalists, property owners, businesses, and other groups willing to work together to find common ground to protect America's national treasures," Norton told the National Association of Attorneys General in Washington, DC, yesterday.

Reiterating the same pledge she has made to Interior employees, tribal leaders, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and state and local leaders, Norton told her former colleagues that her work at the department would be characterized by the four C's: consultation, cooperation, communication, and conservation. Given her public predictability, she might soon add another: consistency.

In an administration where Cabinet officials and the President sometimes present conflicting messages, consistency isn't necessarily all that bad. Norton probably won't ever be faced with the political turnabout Environmental Protection Agency Administration Christie Whitman dealt with this week after Bush reneged on a campaign promise the former New Jersey Governor had been eagerly and dutifully promoting.

But at the same time, Norton only has to push some of Bush's admittedly most simple pledges: fix Indian schools and reduce the backlog of maintenance at America's national parks. Bush says solving these problems only needs money and Norton yesterday told the nation's lawmakers she'd make sure Indian schools get $1 billion over five years and national parks get $5 billion over five years.

On Indian schools: "The President and I also want to improve our schools on Indian reservations to make sure that no child is left behind."

On national parks: "The President and I will work to eliminate the National Park Service's maintenance backlog with nearly $5 billion over five years to fix our national treasures and protect our wild places so more families across America can enjoy them."

So what's left for Norton? Take swipes at her detractors, the former administration, and try to dismantle Washington's apparent hold over the destinies of ordinary Americans.

To her foes: "If you watched television or picked up a newspaper during my confirmation hearings, you may have noticed some groups decided that attacking me might fill their fund-raising coffers."

To the previous administration: "One of my top priorities at the Department of the Interior is to make certain more of your time is moved away from the forcing and the fighting column -- and into the cooperating column."

To bureaucracy: "Some in Washington believe the only way to protect the environment is through Washington-based command and control."

And even on her most controversial task -- convincing Americans that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and other public lands can be developed without harming the environment -- Norton unsurprisingly makes it seem simple: "We can use the resources below the ground while we preserve the landscape and habitat above."

But facing rising criticism over what is probably her department's most embarrassing battle, the trust fund lawsuit and reform project, and awaiting a more specific budget next month, Norton's days of apparent complacency might soon be over.

Get Norton's Speech:
Norton's Remarks to National Association of Attorneys General (3/14)

Related Stories:
Being Gale Norton (Politics 3/13)
Norton defends 'other' self (Politics 3/9)
Norton pushes Indian agenda (Politics 3/1)
Norton to address Indian Affairs Committee (Politics 2/28)
Norton outlines Indian Country priorities (Politics 2/23)
Norton fields questions from tribal leaders (Politics 2/23)
Norton warns of Interior budget cuts (Politics 2/16)