FRANK SESNO, CNN ANCHOR: So George W. Bush doesn't have to worry about filling an FBI position for now. But, on Capitol Hill, the Senate is holding the first of many confirmation hearings for Bush's Cabinet picks. Though we can expect big partisan fights over nominees at Justice, Labor and Interior, the toughest questioning today for Commerce Secretary designate Don Evans came from a Republican, Arizona Senator John McCain. CNN's Chris Black is on Capitol Hill. Chris, what is that all about?</s>CHRIS BLACK, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Frank, it looks like Don Evans, the -- George W. Bush's selection to be commerce secretary is getting a very warm reception actually from both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee. But John McCain is always the skunk at the lawn party, and he pointedly asked Mr. Evans, who was the chairman of George Bush's presidential campaign and his chief find-raiser for his gubernatorial campaign, to submit his own plan for keeping the Commerce Department politically neutral. Now you recall, historically, there was some concern that the Commerce Department had become too political; that they were rewarding contributors with positions on trade missions. In fact, John McCain was very positive in his praise of Bill Daley for cleaning that system up, and taking political appointees out of the process. Mr. Evans said he had spoken to Bill Daley about that. He thought the system in place was pretty good, but he would submit his own plan. Meanwhile, John McCain and Russ Feingold, the Democrat from Wisconsin, will be announcing later today their intent to move ahead with campaign finance reform. They're going to move, they will say, as soon as two days after the inauguration, on January 22nd, which is the very first day legislative business can be conducted up here. Now this is very bad news for George W. Bush. He is opposed to the McCain-Feingold plan, which is a ban on soft money. And it comes right at the beginning of his administration. Republicans have stopped that plan because of a filibuster, but the two sponsors say they have enough votes now to overcome that obstacle -- Frank.</s>SESNO: Chris Black, thanks very much.
Don Evans Gets Warm Reception from Commerce Committee