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Bill Richardson withdraws as commerce secretary; is Oberstar in the running?
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New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a leading advocate of commercial space, has withdrawn as President-Elect Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary, according to the Wall Street Journal:
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his nomination as President-elect Barack Obama's commerce secretary Sunday, citing a federal grand-jury investigation into a "pay to play" scheme in his home state, Obama transition officials said.
Just days ago, Republican Senate aides said they didn't believe the investigation of CDR Financial Products would be a major impediment to Mr. Richardson's confirmation. But the probe appears to be heating up. Mr. Richardson hired a personal lawyer last month and in mid-December, the grand jury began taking testimony from a slew of witnesses.
Richardson had scored two recent big successes in developing Spaceport America in Las Cruces, NM. Virgin Galactic, which will offer suborbital flights to paying passengers, just inked a 20-year lease at the facility. That followed the FAA's granting of a launch license for Spaceport America in early December.
Richardson's withdrawal means a loss of an informed and well-connected advocate of commercial space and space tourism in Obama's cabinet. The growing industry, which offers additional hardware and software development as well as future space tourism, needs support.
With inauguration at hand, will Obama reach out to another former front-runner for a Cabinet position, Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN)? Oberstar is widely regarded as the Darth Vader of commercial space, as I noted in this previous story about Obama's appointment of retired Congressman Ray LaHood (R-ILL) for transportation secretary.
This is a developing story. Frankly, I'm worried about any possibility that Oberstar, who's shown not only a significant lack of understanding about space and commercial space, but also outright antagonism, could re-surface as a potential cabinet candidate.
If Obama taps Oberstar, it could be a signal that the newly-emerging sectors of commercial space might have a real battle ahead.
Read about Spaceport America's tourist and NM economic potential with Neala Schwartzberg, Albuqerque Travel Examiner.
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