Update: Congressman Frank backs down on request to remove NOAA administrator Lubchenco

Obama Administration assures Congressional members that NOAA will work on key fishery problems.

Just one day after calling for the removal of Dr. Jane Lubchenco, NOAA Fisheries’ administrator, Rep. Barney Frank received assurances from the White House that it would be too drastic of a move at this time to ask Lubchenco to step down.  Groundswell would like readers to note that Lubchenco came to NOAA in large part based on the recommendation of Monica Medina, whose husband Ronald Klain is the chief of staff for Vice President Joe Biden.  Medina is now the senior advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce, Jane Lubchenco’s second title.   Do you think some political face cards have been played in the past 24 hours?  Or was this about avoiding the public embarassment and insulting certain environmental non-government organizations behind the Catch Share privatizations of public commons resources?

July 9, 2010 – from SavingSeafood.Org site (see more there) — Congressman Frank issued this statement: 

“After my call for the resignation of NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco, I have spoken to officials from President Obama’s administration and they have told me that they strongly believe this to be a drastic step that they do not wish to take, and that they believe the replacement of Dr. Lubchenco is unnecessary to correct the problems that concern me.   Based on their assurance that these issues are being seriously considered by Dr. Jane Lubchenco and other relevant Administration officials, I will not be pressing for a new administrator.  I hope that I can be shown that the problems facing the fishing industry can be solved with Dr. Jane Lubchenco’s participation.  I will continue to work with her and the Administration and look forward to having serious and meaningful discussions about how we can proceed with the problems facing the fishing industry.  I particularly note that the Administration has assured me that this will be given the highest priority.” - Rep. Barney Frank