New appointment rumors

Several new appointments are in the works, including picks for the cabinet posts of Interior, Labor and trade representative, according to various reports. (More after the jump.)

Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) is Obama's choice to be the new trade ambassador, according to Bloomberg. Becerra has experience with trade issues as a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, but has a mixed record on the subject. He voted for Chinese entry into the World Trade Organization and an agreement with Peru but strongly opposed the more sweeping Central America Free Trade Agreement and has said publicy he regrets his vote in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Two possible candidates to head Interior are Reps. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), reports Politico, which says that several members of Congress are pushing Thompson, including Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), a close confidante of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Mary Beth Maxwell, the founder and director of American Rights at Work, is on the list to be secretary of Labor, and is being backed by another potential candidate, former Rep. David Bonior (D-Mich.), according to Washington Wire. American Rights at Work is a strong supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation to help workers trying to form unions that has been criticized, mostly by business groups, for eliminating secret ballot votes.

For other posts, Richard Holbrooke, the broker of the Dayton peace treaty ending the Bosnian war, may have a role as a negotiator for South Asia, with an expected focus on India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, reports the Washington Post. Holbrooke has a wealth of experience but a reputation for a prickly manner, and may have alienated some Obama advisors by campaigning for the top job at State. But his close relationship with incoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may help him overcome any reluctance on the part of Obama's inner-circle.