Some Good News

As I mentioned yesterday, putting conservative Republican Judd Gregg in charge of the Census as Commerce Secretary, phenom-a-bad idea.

However, Team Obama fixed this problem damn fast, as Steve Benen tells us that Obama hasn't left the Census to the GOP.

Fortunately, he didn't. CQ's Jonathan Allen has the story.

The director of the Census Bureau will report directly to the White House and not the secretary of Commerce, according to a senior White House official.

The decision came after black and Hispanic leaders raised questions about Commerce Secretary nominee Judd Gregg's commitment to funding the census.

Gregg, New Hampshire's senior senator, voted in committee and on the floor for a 1995 Republican budget that envisioned the elimination of the Commerce Department. Of even more concern to black and Hispanic leaders, Gregg battled President Clinton over a request for "emergency" funding for the 2000 census.

The prospect of Gregg overseeing the census drew intense criticism this week from the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials, among others. Taking the census out of Gregg's hands should go a long way in assuaging concerns.

It's also evidence that the White House will take notice when a decision draws fire from Obama's base.

For now. How about that bank thing, Barry?