Bush's cabinet hardliners face tough opposition

President-elect George Bush completed his cabinet nominations yesterday.

The final appointments in Energy, Labour, and Transportation were made just two days before confirmation hearings begin in the Senate.

Current Commerce Secretary, Mr Norman Mineta, was appointed to Transportation. Mr Mineta, a Democratic member of Congress for 21 years, was the first Asian-American to serve in a US cabinet. His appointment is unlikely to prove controversial but not all Mr Bush's nominees are likely to get an easy ride from Democrats.

The nomination for Attorney General, Mr John Ashcroft, a hardliner against abortion, is a particular target of liberal Democrats. His nomination came only after Mr Bush's first choice, Governor Marc Racicot of Montana, was strongly opposed by influential Republican conservatives, supposedly over his soft views on abortion and school choice. They view the post of attorney general, with its control over the huge Justice Department, as an important ideological battleground.

Mr Ashcroft, who has also been a strong advocate for the right to own guns and has an honorary degree from Bob Jones University will also face questioning over his successful opposition to the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Ronnie White, an African-American, to the federal bench.

Senator Charles Schumer, a leading Democrat, has said Mr Ashcroft will certainly be questioned about his willingness to enforce federal laws banning violence against abortion clinics or restricting gun access.

Environmentalists are also likely to give the Interior Secretary, Ms Gail Norton, a grilling. She used to work under the hated Reagan nominee, Mr James Watt, and has been a strong public defender of the "wise use" movement which argues for environmental protection but also aims to weaken government regulation and strengthen property rights.

Yesterday new Republican members of Congress met to discuss their strategy for the hearings and for implementing the bipartisan control of both houses that moderate leaders have been promising. Early reports from the meeting suggested, however, that conservatives were putting up a fight against sharing congressional committee posts with Democrats.

Today 11 new senators, including the celebrated senator from New York, Ms Hillary Clinton, will be sworn in along with 42 new members of the House of Representatives. The full list of cabinet nominations is: Gen Colin Powell (State); Mr Paul O'Neill (Treasury); Mr Don Evans (Commerce); Mr Norman Mineta (Transportation); Mr Rod Paige (Education); Mr Donald Rumsfeld (Defence); Mr Tommy Thompson (Health and Human Resources); Ms Gail Norton (Interior); Mr John Ashcroft (Attorney General); Mr Mel Martinez (Housing and Urban Development); Ms Christie Whitman (Environment); Ms Ann Veneman (Agriculture); Mr Mitch Daniels (Office of Management and Budget); Mr Anthony Principi (Veteran's Affairs); Ms Linda Chavez (Labour); Mr Spencer Abraham (Energy).

The cabinet includes two African-Americans, one Hispanic-American, one Lebanese-American, two governors, four corporate executives, one former Ford cabinet member, one current cabinet member and four women.