In Transition

Rep. John Salazar, who had been widely mentioned as a possible Agriculture secretary, has all but taken himself out of consideration now that he has won a seat on the Appropriations Committee. Environmentalists and animal rights groups were not thrilled when his name surfaced for the position earlier this month, given his voting record on conservation and horse cruelty. But the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has been lobbying the Obama team to tap the Colorado Democrat, who is a caucus member and farmer.

Salazar was honored to be mentioned as a potential nominee, but now would rather stay in Congress to handle appropriations, a Salazar aide said Friday.

The Democratic Caucus on Wednesday approved Salazar to become a member of the Appropriations Committee, which handles spending bills.

If the Obama transition approached him, "it is highly unlikely he would take the job," the aide said. Salazar would instead offer to advise the president on farm policy as a Colorado Representative.

Environmental groups had raised concerns about Obama potentially picking a man who voted against extra funding for conservation programs, even though he represents a state that is financially dependent on the environment. Salazar objected to a House amendment during debate last year on the farm bill (PL 110-246) that would have shifted government farmer aid from commodity payments to conservation, nutrition and rural development.

The Humane Society of the United States opposed Salazar for the nomination partly because he voted against a bill (HR 503) that would ban transporting, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling or donating horses for human consumption.