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Tom ridge on presidency succession Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20030630/ap_on_go_co/presidential_succession_3 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20030630/ap_on_go_co/presidential_succession_3 Top Stories - AP Ridge May Move Up in Succession List Mon Jun 30, 2:37 PM ET Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo! By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge could move up to eighth in the line of presidential succession, leapfrogging 10 other Cabinet members in a congressional effort to better prepare for a catastrophic attack on Washington. Under legislation approved by the Senate and now pending in the House, Ridge would move from 18th to eighth, behind Attorney General John Ashcroft (news - web sites) and in front of Interior Secretary Gale Norton, in the line to succeed the president in a disaster. The measure sped through the Senate without debate last Friday. Ridge, asked about the legislation, said Monday, "One of our responsibilities obviously is continuity of government ... and where the Congress thinks the secretary should fit, that's their judgment. I'm satisfied with it." The current system dates back to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, signed by President Truman, that specifies that the vice president, the speaker of the House, the president pro tempore of the Senate and the secretary of state are next in line to take over the presidency if necessary. Other Cabinet members are listed according to the date their offices were established. With the formation of the Homeland Security Department early this year, Ridge became 18th in the succession line, behind Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi. But both in the Senate, where Sens. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., sponsored the legislation, and in the House there's been a push to change the order, DeWine said that the Homeland Security chief, because of his responsibilities for disaster relief and security, would be best qualified to take over the nation after an attack that took the lives of the top seven successors. "We need to be prepared for even the worst-case disaster scenario," and it makes sense to break with tradition and elevate the head of the largest and one of the most powerful departments, DeWine said. Rep. Christopher Cox (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif., said in introducing legislation in the House in early June that the Homeland Security chief should be placed higher because his job is "dealing with mortal threats to the country." Cox and Rep. Martin Frost (news, bio, voting record), D-Texas, have proposed a bill that would also make the Homeland Security secretary eighth in line as well as clarify other language in the 1947 law. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., has introduced a similar bill. The current order of succession lists Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites), House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Senate President Pro Tempore Ted Stevens, Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites), Secretary of the Treasury John Snow, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Ashcroft and Norton. Then, Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman, Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Secretary of Health and Human Services (news - web sites) Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez, Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta (news - web sites), Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham (news - web sites), Secretary of Education Rod Paige, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi and Ridge. The order of presidential succession. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge would move from 18th to eighth (behind the attorney general) under legislation moving through Congress: ___ _ Vice President Dick Cheney. _ House Speaker Dennis Hastert. _ Senate President Pro Tempore Ted Stevens. _ Secretary of State Colin Powell. _ Treasury Secretary John Snow. _ Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. _ Attorney General John Ashcroft. _ Interior Secretary Gale Norton. _ Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. _ Commerce Secretary Donald Evans. _ Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. _ Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. _ Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez. _ Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. _ Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. _ Education Secretary Rod Paige. _ Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi. _ Ridge. ___ On the Net: Information on the Senate bill, S. 148, and the House bill, H.R. 2319, can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov/

6-6-2-cabinet Bremer said CIA should pay murderers for information { June 4 2000 } Broad new powers Bush rivals fdr powers { November 20 2001 } Homeland aids drugmakers { November 15 2002 } Homeland bill nov 25 Homeland security called for in january 2001 { January 31 2001 } Homeland security failed katrina the first big test Homeland security has 1 of 12 federal employees { August 25 2003 } Homeland security needs 911 to pass { January 31 2001 } Homeland security ridge nov 26 Homelandsec top priority Infighting plagues homeland security department { February 2 2005 } Leiberman authored { November 13 2002 } No whistle blower Nov 19 homeland bill { November 20 2002 } Nov 19 homeland bill2 { November 20 2002 } Nov 19 homeland gifts Panel cabinet post dci { December 8 2002 } Panel recommends draconian laws before 911 { January 31 2001 } Panel recommends homeland security 9 months before attacks { January 31 2001 } President approves 30b terror bill { October 2 2003 } Security money buys radios and hauls lawnmowers { January 8 2005 } Senate debates homeland Smallpox liability bill { November 16 2002 } Supersnoop security Tom ridge on presidency succession Tom ridge1 [jpg] Tom ridge2 [jpg] Vaccine lawsuits block { November 15 2002 } Watching your every move { January 27 2003 } Files Listed: 30

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