Unied States President George Bush has asked treasury Secretary John Snow to remain in his job during the administration’s second term, scotching widespread speculation that he was about to be replaced.
White House spokesperson Scott McClellan said that the two men met briefly on Wednesday in the White House. ”The president is pleased secretary Snow agreed to continue his service,” he said.
Snow (65) was brought in at the beginning of last year to replace the ousted Paul O’Neill who had expressed reservations about the president’s economic policy.
Snow has championed the Bush administration policies, most notably the massive tax cuts which have propelled the United States into record-breaking federal deficits.
During the second term Snow’s two key priorities will be simplifying the tax code and overhauling the country’s social security system.
So far eight members of the 15-strong Bush Cabinet have either left or announced their intention to quit.
Carlo Gutierrez, the chief executive of cereal company Kellogg’s, was last month named as US commerce secretary to replace Don Evans. – Guardian Unlimited Â