White House budget director Rob Portman plans to resign, stating that he wants to spend more time with his family (Reuters). The Washington Post said the announcement came:
"as the White House prepares for a battle with Democratic lawmakers over spending issues.... Portman was expected to be a major player in fashioning administration strategy. He is one of the most popular Cabinet members on the Hill, and even Democrats speak highly of his intellect and affability...."
After a stint at the law firm of Patton, Boggs in the 1980s, he served President Bush's father as associate White House counsel (1989-91) and later as Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. (Whitehouse.gov) Portman resigned from Congress in 2005 to become a U.S. trade representative. In 2006, President Bush appointed him to the Office of Management and Budget.
Bush named former congressman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) to replace Portman. In 2006, Nussle ran for governor in Iowa and lost. In July 2006, the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board gave Nussle a written reprimand for failing to report campaign donations.
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