White House Considering Appointing Tom DeLay As OMB Director (For Real)...

Incumbent Bolten may pick an outsider for OMB
By Paul Bedard
Posted 4/12/06
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Incoming White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten is said to be leaning toward selecting an outsider with strong fiscal conservative credentials to take his spot as director of the Office of Management and Budget, according to some insiders.

"It would be a savvy move," said one official. Previous reports from the West Wing were that Bolten would pick an insider for the post, possibly Deputy OMB Director Joel Kaplan; Al Hubbard, director of the National Economic Council; or trade czar Rob Portman. But new indications are that Bolten might use the opening to send Congress a signal that he means business when he says the president wants to cut costs.

"This job gives him the ability to curry favor with Congress," said one insider. Sources said that he is considering former and current House members for the post. One associate even suggested that retiring Rep. Tom DeLay was being considered, though the most likely pick would be from a conservative budget association.

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