Hilda Solis is Obama’s labor pick:
WASHINGTON (AP) — A labor official says Rep. Hilda Solis of California will be nominated as labor secretary by President-elect Barack Obama.
The Democratic congresswoman was just elected to her fifth term representing heavily Hispanic portions of eastern Los Angeles County and east L.A. She is the daughter of Mexican and Nicaraguan immigrants and has been the only member of Congress of Central American descent.
I had the pleasure of working issues with and against Solis when she was in the California State Senate back in the day. Her speciality was “women’s issues” such as child custody and support, the marriage tax, domestic violence, affirmative action, and health care, so this comes as a bit of a surprise. She will be the first cabinet member of my personal acquaintance. Now if she owes me a favor…