Monday, November 24, 2008

Faiz Shakir (Think Progress)

Obama to appoint Melody Barnes as head of Domestic Policy Council.»

2760447624_37c37412c9.jpgLater today, President-elect Barack Obama will announce that our friend and former colleague Melody Barnes will be named as Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. The Council “coordinates the domestic policy-making process in the White House and offers policy advice to the President.” In her new role, Melody will be working with allies such as incoming HHS Secretary Tom Daschle to bring about comprehensive health care reform. Her policy portfolio will include issues such as education, immigration, criminal justice, and other domestic issues. Melody was a former Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress, and previously served as Senior Domestic Policy Advisor for the campaign and as co-chair of the Agency Review Working Group for the transition. We wish her the best of luck.

Update: Mike Allen notes that "Barnes, a Richmond native, is one of the top African-Americans named to the new administration."

Update:
Christina Romer, "a well-regarded economist at the University of California at Berkeley," will lead the Council of Economic Advisers.