Norm Mineta: No Skunk at the Garden Party

By BRIAN MINAMI

  LOS ANGELES.—U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta discussed his role as the sole Democrat on President Bush's Cabinet during a briefing for the Asian American press Friday in downtown Los Angeles.

The hastily arranged twenty minute meeting preceded Mineta's keynote address at the 21st annual Korean American Bar Association dinner at the Wilshire Grand Hotel.

Although intended to promote the president's 2002 budget released Wednesday, the public relations event met with questionable success as it was attended only by Mineta's two staffers and two media members.

The press was treated, however, to a candid glimpse inside 'the Beltway' as Mineta expressed his sentiments surrounding his acceptance of the cabinet appointment.

"I don't intend to be a poster child for the Bush administration," Mineta announceded as he detailed the decision making process that ended with him becoming the nation's 14th Secretary of Transportation.

The phone call on December 29 from then vp-elect, Dick Cheney came "as a total surprise." Mineta then called Al Gore, who "was still chafing from the [election] process. He told me 'I want to encourage you to do this as part of the healing process.'"

"I don't intend to be a poster child for the Bush administration," asserts Mineta at a press briefing before his keynote address at the Korean American Bar Association's Annual Dinner Friday, March 2, 2001 in Los Angeles.

Mineta consulted with fellow Democrats and Asian American community members because he "didn't want to be diminished as a Democrat or to be called a turncoat."

He also contacted members of the African American Caucus prior to making his decision. According to Mineta, "90% of their people voted against Bush."

Everyone expressed their overwhelming support except for one person in Congress who Mineta left unnamed.

During the three recent Cabinet meetings, Mineta, the lone Democrat was "not treated as a skunk in the garden party." He said that he feels confident that he can voice his differences with Cabinet members although he would be hesitant if his opinion did not affect his department.

When queried whether he raised objections to the president's budget at the last Cabinet meeting, he answered negatively, noting that "no one commented on it. [Office of Management and Budget Director] Mitch Daniels passed around a sheet with gross numbers on it tellng what was going to happen to us."

Mineta's main problem with his department's $57.8 billion budget is the projected shortfall in funding for the Coast Guard. Because of an increase in pay and benefits and higher fuel costs the Coast Guard's $5 billion budget misses targeted expenses by $117 million. Mineta found this amount "pretty sizable" given that all other funds are taken.

"We can't respond to one out of three distress calls. That wouldn't work." Mineta explained that the Coast Guard commandant will have to decide from where the money will come.

Despite this minor setback, Mineta said he is proud to serve the American people. With Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Mineta is the second Asian American on the president's Cabinet.

"I'm going to be a good team player. He [Bush] makes a decision and I am saluting and we go about our work."