WASHINGTON – The president will name a Republican congressman this morning to replace Army Secretary Pete Geren, who represented Fort Worth as a Democrat in Congress before joining the Bush team at the Pentagon.
An administration official confirmed that Barack Obama will name Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., to serve as the civilian Army chief. An announcement is scheduled just before 11 a.m. CDT.
Geren, 57, was elected to the U.S. House in 1989 to replace former House Speaker Jim Wright, and served there until 1997.
A conservative Democrat, he accepted President George W. Bush’s offer to work at as a special assistant to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and he started work one week before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
He served as acting Secretary of the Air Force from July to November 2005 and Under Secretary of the Army starting in February 2006.
The Senate confirmed Geren as the nation’s 20th Secretary of the Army in July 2007, and he agreed to remain while Obama sought a replacement.
With soldiers facing extended deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Geren has spent much of his tenure wrestling with morale and readiness issues.
The Army secretary oversees a $170 billion annual budget and a workforce of more than 1 million soldiers and more than a half-million civilian employees and contract workers.
McHugh, elected in 1992, is the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, a panel Geren served on during his time in Congress.
If confirmed, McHugh would be Obama’s third Republican in a senior post, though unlike Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the former Illinois congressman, he would not be part of the Cabinet. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is awaiting confirmation as ambassador to China.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Politician John Mchugh
John Michael McHugh (born September 29, 1948) is a politician from the state of New York, currently representing the state's 23rd congressional district (map) in the United States House of Representatives. On June 2, 2009, White House officials told the media that President Obama planned to nominate him to the position of U.S. Secretary of the Army.
Early life and career
McHugh was born in Watertown, New York and he graduated from Utica College. He was elected to the New York State Senate as a Republican in 1984.
Congressional career
He ran successfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 to replace Congressman David O'B. Martin in the 24th district. McHugh hasn't faced serious competition from Democrats, or anyone within his own Republican party since his election to the House. The 23rd District has traditionally been heavily Republican. The district includes Oswego and Madison Counties and northwest Oneida County, New York, and then sprawls north through Watertown and east across the northern parts of the state to Plattsburgh.
He is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The Armed Services Committee directs the Pentagon and America's defense policies. McHugh serves as the Ranking Republican on the Committee's Subcommittee on Military Personnel, responsible for more than $70 billion in federal defense spending related to personnel issues and $15 billion in health benefits.
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform reviews, on a continuing basis, government activities at all levels with a view to determining their economy and efficiency. For six years, McHugh served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Postal Service, and last year worked to pass legislation to significantly reform the U.S. Postal Service for the first time in 35 years.
McHugh is also a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which is responsible for overseeing activities of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Many aspects of the committee’s work are classified for reasons of national security.
Dr. Robert Johnson, his Democratic opponent in 2004, was defeated (again) in 2006. McHugh was the only one of New York's eight Republican incumbents to win over 60% in 2006. The other seven were either defeated or were held below 60% by their Democratic challengers. On January 4, 2007, McHugh was sworn in to his eighth term in the House of Representatives.
McHugh defeated Mike Oot for congressional re-election in 2008, again with over 60% of the vote.
Political views
Health care
McHugh wants the health care system to be reformed by tax cuts and credits to individuals, small businesses, and the self-employed.
Bailout Plan
McHugh voted for both versions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
War on Terrorism
McHugh is a strong supporter of the War on Terrorism.
Personal
McHugh, who was active socially in Albany, New York while a State Senator, is divorced from his wife.
His home is in Pierrepont Manor, a small town upstate New York.
Rep. McHugh was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people on Capitol Hill by The Hill magazine.
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