Pearce asked to step down from gas pipeline post by Obama

[babylonsister]

Pearce asked to step down from gas pipeline post by Obama

By Erika Bolstad | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — The Republican who heads up the federal agency overseeing the proposed construction of Alaska's natural gas pipeline is stepping down at the request of President Barack Obama.

Drue Pearce, a former president of the Alaska Senate, was asked to leave her job as the head of the small agency known as the Office of the Federal Coordinator. Her resignation takes effect Jan. 3.

In a statement, Pearce said that it had been "a profound privilege to lead this innovative team."

"I am a passionate supporter of the agency's mission to bring Alaska natural gas to North American markets," Pearce said. "I leave an effective and efficient agency with a highly skilled team of professionals actively pursuing our mission."

Pearce served from 2001 to 2006 as the senior adviser to the Secretary of the Interior for Alaska Affairs until she was appointed to another political job by President George W. Bush, as the federal coordinator for the gas pipeline. She was confirmed as federal coordinator by the Senate in 2006.

Since Obama's inauguration, there has been a quiet but ongoing dispute over whether Pearce, a political appointee, could continue in the job as federal coordinator under the Obama administration. When the legislation creating the office was signed into law in 2004, it included language that allowed the presidential appointee in the job to "serve a term to last until one year following the completion of the project."

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/politics/story/78997.html

[vaberella]

1. Babylonsister, can you explain to me the relevance of this post and resignation?

I'm just not seeing it. The woman doesn't seem corrupt or within any scandal.

[babylonsister]

2. I think it's nothing more than she was a political appointee whose

term is about to expire; maybe they want a Dem in there just on general principle. But I'm not at all familiar with Alaskan politics, so maybe someone more knowledgeable can weigh in.

[vaberella]

3. Thanks. Calling any and all AK people... n/t

[Cha]

4. Maybe Blue In Alaska knows something

about this..I bet mudflats would know.

[Cha]

5. Well, we know PO has some Repubs

in his admin bc he thinks they're the best ones for the job so maybe he has someone better in mind for the particular one?