Seven Obama Picks Approved

The Obama Cabinet officially gained seven new members this afternoon, with the Senate approving the (controversy-free) nominations of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Peter Orszag, the new director of the Office of Management and Budget, was also approved as part of the single voice vote. But Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton’s nomination was held up over an objection by Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn. She’ll be forced to undergo a roll call vote tomorrow.