Obama Names First Blogger to White House Post

Wendy Stackhouse for Video Your Vote November 19, 2008

Appointments to positions in President-Elect Barack Obama's White House personnel came fast and furious today, also Vice President-Elect Joe Biden's 66th birthday.

Previously reported was his naming of Tom Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services and point man on health care reform in the new administration. Daschle used to be the Senate Majority Leader and senior Senator from South Dakota.

Perhaps exciting to internet news readers, however, is Obama's naming of Peter Orszag as Direction of the Office of Management and Budget. Mr. Orszag comes to OMB from his post as Director or the Congressional Budget Office, where he has hosted a blog since December, 2007.

Deck chairs were being rearranged in Congress today as well. Henry Waxman (D-CA) will most likely take over the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee from John Dingell (D-MI). Waxman's focus is more on the environment, while Dingell's has been mostly on helping the auto industry.

Another likely move is Senator John Kerry (D-MA) to the Chair of the presigious Senate Foreign Relations Committe, previously chaired by Vice President-Elect Joe Biden.

Votes were taken in the Senate Steering Committee today and will probably be confirmed in votes of the entire body next week.