Obama Zig-Zags On OMB

By Kleinheider Posted on November 19, 2008 at 7:15 am

While many a Nashville politico had been hoping that our new President’s pick for the Office of Management and Budget would result in an open 5th District congressional seat, it appears that the new administration will be going another way:

President-elect Barack Obama is preparing to tap Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag, once a veteran economic adviser in the Clinton White House, to become his budget director, according to several National Journal sources. The Office of Management and Budget job — seen as a key post to help Obama deliver on his domestic policy agenda amidst the gloom of a $700 billion federal financial rescue, a recession and the prospects of a $1 trillion deficit next year — carries Cabinet rank. An announcement is expected soon, but could come with other personnel decisions Obama is making to lead the Treasury Department and National Economic Council in his White House.

Rep. Jim Cooper’s early support for Obama as well as his expertise and outspokenness on budget issues led many to speculate that Cooper would be tapped for the position.

Several names had been swirling about as potential candidates in a special election were Coop selected including several councilpeople, TNDP chair Gray Sasser, Deputy Governor Stuart Brunson and former Metro Mayor Bill Purcell.

PREVIOUSLY: Cooper’s Choice

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CNN
Time

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Tags: 5 District, Jim Cooper, Office of Management And Budget, OMB, Peter Orszag, special election, Stuart Brunson  

Rep. Jim Cooper Will Not Serve In An Obama Administration

By Kleinheider Posted on July 30, 2008 at 2:00 pm

Rep. Jim Cooper today put to rest speculation that he may soon leave his safe and cozy 5th District Congressional seat for the greener pastures of a hypothetical Obama administration:

“I already have a great job representing the people of the Nashville area in Congress. I am not interested in doing anything else. I want to stay put as the 5th District Congressman as long as the voters continue to support me. Although I strongly support Senator Obama for president, he’ll need to look beyond me for his team—and there will be no shortage of smart people to help him.”

One assumes if Obama came to Coop and asked “pretty please with sugar on top” he might change his mind but this seems pretty shermanesque.

Jim Cooper, an early supporter of Obama with laser beam focus on budget issues, has been seen in many quarters as a natural choice for either the Office of Management and Budget or Treasury Secretary.

SEE ALSO:
Sean Braisted
Jeff Woods

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Tags: 5th District, Barack Obama, Jim Cooper, OMB, Shermanesque, Treasury Secretary