Ridge departs DHS with Chertoff in the wings

Ridge departs DHS with Chertoff in the wings    Tuesday was Tom Ridge’s last day as Secretary of Homeland Security. He helped get the new department off the ground in 2003, but left to mixed reviews.
   Many said it was achievement enough to get 22 agencies and 180,000 personnel moving in the right direction. Others say too many issues languished due to a poor management structure, agency turf battles and inadequate resources.
   Meanwhile, the Senate held a confirmation hearing Wednesday for Michael Chertoff, whom President Bush nominated to succeed Ridge. Under mostly friendly questioning, Chertoff explained his role in the Justice Department following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Questions have been raised about whether civil liberties were ignored in treatment of prisoners in Afghanistan, roundups of undocumented immigrants and establishing extra police powers to conduct domestic investigations of suspected terrorists.
      The committee is expected to vote Monday on Chertoff’s nomination. He is expected to receive a favorable recommendation and be easily confirmed by the full Senate.
   Chertoff agreed with senators that the department needs to set priorities because not all homeland security threats are equal and funds are limited.