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According to the Journal's "Washington Wire," pharmaceutical corporations would go to the mat to stop Nissen, although he has plenty of credibility on Capitol Hill after raising alarms about drugs. Taylor, although liked by members of both parties, still gets knocked for FDA's approval of a genetically engineered hormone called bST to boost milk production in cows
on his watch.
Califf, considered OK with both sides of the aisle, has ties to industry that could raise flags, and Pendergast, although admired by Sen. Edward Kennedy and his staffers, is an attorney, not a physician, a drawback. Industry's favorite seems to be Woodcock, whose backers have been pushing talking points to the media that she would be acceptable to both parties, but "Woodcock's been involved in some FDA controversies and drug problems that blew up in the House and Senate" and infuriated members of the Senate committee that will confirm the new commissioner.
The new FDA commissioner will likely to be tougher on drugmakers on a range of issues from approving new drugs to policing advertising directed at consumers and will have the challenge of "rebuilding the agency's staff of scientists." In addition, the Journal's "Washington Wire" reports of "rumbling ... about a move to take the 'F' out of FDA by switching food regulation" to USDA and creating a 24/7 food agency."
Thanks to http://www.kaisernetwork.org.
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Thanks for the dialogue, a vital one. I expect Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to head the EPA, and his cousin Caroline Kennedy would be our best UN Ambassador. I like Arizona Gov. Napolitano for Education Secretary and New Mexico Gov. Richardson for Secretary of State.
I hope there will be lots of comments on this, and that readers will take the time to speak of who they would like to see in Obama's Cabinet, and above all: WHY, AND WHAT WOULD THEY LIKE TO SEE THEM ACHIEVE.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News
(Our Newspaper was the first to print Obama Wins! as a headline on the front page, 11 days before the election)
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