Gregg to Take Commerce Job

NH governor will name new GOP senator
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 3, 2009 3:11 AM CST
Gregg to Take Commerce Job
Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire agreed to appoint a Republican to the Senate to take Gregg's spot.   (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

New Hampshire GOP Sen. Judd Gregg is accepting the post of commerce secretary, reports CNN. The state's Democratic governor has agreed to name another Republican to replace Gregg in the Senate, leaving the balance of power unchanged. If that deal hadn't been struck, Gregg would have turned down the commerce job.

 The Democrats currently have a 58-seat majority and an extra seat would have given them the critical 60 votes needed to override filibusters. "It is important that President Obama be able to select the advisers he feels are necessary to help him," Lynch said. The appointment is expected to be announced today. Gregg is a third-term senator with a reputation as a fiscal conservative.
(More Obama administration stories.)

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