Richardson Pick Marks Departure For Commerce

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Obama Nominates Richardson to Lead Commerce

President-elect Barack Obama has nominated Gov. Bill Richardon for Secretary of Commerce. Richardson is currently the governor of New Mexico.

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Emphasizing the commerce secretary's role in the economy, Obama cited Richardson's experience in a variety of positions and called him "the best person for that job."

"Bill has seen from just about every angle what makes our economy work and what keeps it from working better," Obama said.

"I think people are going to say this is one of the most diverse Cabinets and White House staffs of all time," Obama added. "But more importantly, they are going to say these are all people of outstanding qualifications and excellence."

Beyond the Commerce Department's central role in foreign trade, Richardson faces a series of challenges in a sprawling department that houses the Census Bureau, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Patent and Trademark Office.

Assuming Senate confirmation, Richardson almost certainly will find himself in the middle of an early battle on patent legislation that passed the House but has stalled in the Senate.

Companies such as Microsoft and Oracle favor new protections, saying current law permits abuses and stifles innovation. Opponents include the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the AFL-CIO.

"I think patent law reform is going to be the biggest area of immediate concern for the patent office," said James R. Myers, a prominent D.C. patent lawyer at the firm Ropes & Gray. "They are going to have to take a stand. There's a lot of competing concerns."

Richardson must also direct the 2010 census, identified by the Government Accountability Office as a "high-risk area" because of uncertainty about costs and accuracy.

Rosenwald reported from Washington.