Subject: FW: Letter to Senators Obama and McCain from David Abshire and seven other leaders
From: "Chris Lu" <[email-masked]>
To: "John Podesta" <[email-masked]>
Cc: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:54:11 -0500

FYI - in case you haven't already received this.
 
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Chris Lu
[email-masked]
312-505-4864 (cell)

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From: Anne Solomon [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: Fri 9/19/2008 2:32 PM
To: Chris Lu; [email-masked]
Subject: Letter to Senators Obama and McCain from David Abshire and seven other leaders

To:  Chris Lu

Dear Chris,

Please see attached a letter from David Abshire, president of the Center for the Study of the Presidency,  and the heads of seven other major organizations urging Senators Obama and McCain to join together to catalyze Senate action to "make it possible to have critical Presidential appointees confirmed on or soon after the Inauguration on January 20."  A hard copy of the letter will be delivered to your office on Monday.  We are directing it to you with our understanding that you are a key transition leader for Senator Obama.

We also are sending the letter to Will Ball and Bill Timmons, Sr. who we understand are the transition leaders in the McCain camp.

As you will see, we ask that the two candidates write jointly to Senate leaders requesting long-delayed action to expedite the confirmation process for top Presidential appointees.

If it would be helpful, we would send over a draft of such a letter for your use.

Considering the urgency of the challenges we face it is essential that the new President have key people in place on or soon after January 20.  If history is any indication, without changes in Senate practice, most appointees requiring Senate confirmation will not be in place until Labor Day or beyond.

This is the first time in history that both nominees are in the Senate.  We believe that this is an extraordinary opportunity to improve the Presidential appointment process.

We urge your attention to this matter.

Thank you,

Anne Solomon

 

Anne G.K. Solomon

Senior Advisor, Science & Technology Policy

Center for the Study of the Presidency

1020 19th Street, NW   Suite 250

Washington, DC 20036

202-872-9800

E Mail:  [email-masked]

http://www.thepresidency.org <http://www.thepresidency.org/> 

<http://www.thepresidency.org/>