The Next Secretary of Commerce, William (Bill) Blaine Richardson III

When Gov. Bill Richardson becomes America's next Secretary of Commerce, he will direct 40,000 employees and a group of fascinating sub organizations. The most important of these functions, because of the deteriorating US Economy is that he will be integrally involved as Obama works towards solutions with his economic team. Both Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers as Director of the National Economic Council, will also be integral. Richardson will excel in promoting American business and international trade; he will supervise the International Trade Administration, ensuring that American businesses have access to international markets and that counterfeit foreign goods don't corrupt U.S. markets.

The new commerce secretary will counsel on trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. Although Bush negotiated the agreements, the Democratic Congress has delayed ratifying them because of pressures from labor. Obama opposes the Colombia pact because he wants Columbia to crack down and prevent unionists being murdered. Obama wants the South Korea agreement renegotiated to benefit U.S. automakers; both situations will challenge Richardson's negotiating abilities skills and his history as a free trade advocate. Richardson was one of the original NAFTA proponents.

Commerce has an $8 billion annual budget; it gathers economic and demographic data as in the Census, develops telecommunications and technology policy, conducts ocean research, issues patents and trademarks, forecasts the weather, and manages fisheries and wildlife sanctuaries. Census determines how many House seats for each state, and is used for redistricting school boards to congressional districts, so it is a sensitive position, often subject to the demands and wrath of Congressmen.

Michele Kraus at Huffington Post has written the most insightful assessment of Richardson at Commerce:

"All the media pundits seem to be missing the boat on the brilliance of the selection of Governor Bill Richardson as the next Secretary of Commerce. Many have been just too eager to pigeonhole him in the role of foreign affairs and stir the controversy missing the real beef of this Governor's legacy in the State of New Mexico. This man is innovative. We need someone willing to think out the box and attract the best talent to implement and manage. That is Big Bill from the far off land of New Mexico. More than $2 Billion in revenues and jobs are now coming into New Mexico from Hollywood; the chip giant Intel in a partnership with the State built one of the world's fastest super computers outside of Albuquerque; venture capital firms have been created to invest in start-up ventures; and partnerships have been formed with titans of private industry. He's got a team of the best and brightest, and even raided Princeton for his young Energy advisor who is spearheading innovations for the Western states on climate crisis. If that were not enough, last spring Richardson sealed one of the largest private and public partnerships with Sir Richard Branson and the State of New Mexico to build the next generation space station. The net is that there are more jobs, and more money and more programs for advanced education - all benefiting the people and the economy of New Mexico for the long term as we all weather the blight of this financial roller coaster. So next time you wonder what Obama was thinking, muse over the facts and applaud him for his shrewd insight in appointing Richardson to help reinvent commerce for the US."