Solis seems to have a very low profile outside of California, and we'll probably learn more about her and her views in the coming days. Over at The American Prospect, labor journalist Harold Meyerson has a positive write up (FYI ... Meyerson is a fine labor reporter who positively hates the South):
What does Rep. Hilda Solis, Barack Obama’s selection for secretary of labor, bring to the job? Only a record of passionate commitment to working people, a high level of political smarts, and some genuine displays of raw guts that could make her a star of American liberalism.
[snip]
And in 2000, she did something liberals always talk about doing and almost never do: she challenged an incumbent Democratic congressman with a piss-poor record in that Spring’s Democratic primary, and defeated him soundly. Marty Martinez, a 9-term incumbent seeking his 10th, had voted for NAFTA, opposed gun controls and abortion rights, and backed the extension of a freeway into a residential area -- managing to estrange labor, enviros, feminists and liberals of all descriptions. Still, Democrats virtually never run against incumbents, from the left or from anyplace. But Solis, with the encouragement of L.A. County AFL-CIO chieftain Miguel Contreras, did just that. She not only won, but defeated Matinez by a whopping 69 percent to 31 percent margin.
[snip]
In the House, Solis has continued to champion labor causes, immigrants' rights, women’s health and environmental protections.
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4 comments:
She is a solid pick- right up there with Mary Beth Maxwell. I wonder, like JQ, if he waited til the end to announce her so no one pays any attention to a rather progressive appointment.
Perhaps, though I don't know very much about her.
From an agency perspective, the rumor has been that an Obama Labor Department will focus initially on strengthening and enforcing workplace standards. Only later will they get to workforce investments like reauthorizing thew Workforce Investment Act.
The other thing floating out there is the Employee Free Choice Act which will be a huge political fight if it actually moves in Congress.
i know her as an environmentalist. i was curious when her name was floated for labor- she is good there, too, but very strong on the enviro and enviro justice issues. Back in my enviro organizing days, my friends worked with Hilda when she was a state rep then a state sen in Cali and think she is the cream of the crop
That's great to hear.
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