Mcauliffe is courting some right wing repubs for his cabinet

[cali]

In March, McAuliffe could not name the positions in the governor’s Cabinet, but more recently he has taken steps to assemble his own. In the process, he’s courted trouble by trying to retain Republican Gov. Robert F. McDonnell’s health and human resources secretary. He has publicly hinted that he would like Bill Hazel to stay on in his Cabinet and made an indirect appeal behind the scenes, according to two people familiar with the effort, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss a confidential matter.

As a highly respected expert on health policy with GOP credentials, Hazel might be able to help McAuliffe persuade skeptical House Republicans to go along with the new governor’s top priority: expanding Medicaid. But the idea that McAuliffe would even consider Hazel for his Cabinet has upset women’s groups, who blame the secretary for supporting legislation mandating ultrasounds before abortions and imposing strict building codes on abortion clinics.

For some supporters, McAuliffe’s courtship of Hazel demonstrated an ability to play the bipartisan pragmatist capable of compromise. Others worried that it showed a willingness to abandon principles and people along the way. “We are unabashedly opposed to Secretary Hazel staying on in the cabinet,” said Tarina Keene, executive director NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia. “I think having someone like Dr. Hazel stay on is certainly not going to be an option for the administration considering the people who put him in that office.”

<snip>

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican whom McAuliffe has publicly courted for his Cabinet, said the new governor will have to surround himself with people who are experienced in state government, include some prominent Republicans in his administration and moderate his political agenda.

It’s the last of these that could prove most tricky for McAuliffe but, perhaps, will be essential to keep some moderates with him as the Obamacare landscape shifts. Bolling came out in favor of Medicaid expansion early this year while considering an independent run for governor. But the health-care program’s troubled rollout — with spectacular computer glitches and news that millions of Americans will lose their current coverage — has Bolling rethinking his position.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/now-comes-the-hard-part-for-virginia-gov-elect-terry-mcauliffe/2013/11/05/a6320310-37e3-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_story.html

[geek tragedy]

1. Ugh. Getting Medicaid expansion through is probably the most important item

on McAuliffe's agenda, but an anti-choice nutter? Blech, politics sucks

[cali]

3. I don't think it's worth it. I doubt that Hazel can make that much of a difference

[geek tragedy]

5. I don't know enough about the Virginia Assembly to have an opinion

as to whether Hazel could actually help get it through.

[Vincardog]

2. Mcauliffe is courting some right wing repubs for the same reason Obama did. He agrees with them.

[cali]

4. baloney. It's patently absurd to suggest that Mcauliffe is anti-choice.

[TheKentuckian]

6. But he is corporate, a hack, and mucky so there is probably plenty to agree with outside abortion.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

7. He'll probably want to privatize education. Plenty of money there.

[cali]

8. I don't disagree with you about that

but he does support the ACA and abortion rights. He's likely to meet stiff opposition from the repubs that control the VA legislature.

[HereSince1628]

9. Lord? Please, help Virginia democrats.

They tried to do the right thing, don't let the guy they elected screw them.

amen

[Mika]

10. I'm shocked. SHOCKED, I tell ya.

Not!