ELAINE CHAO NAMED TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY
Former labor secretary and wife of Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, Elaine Chao, has been chosen by President-elect Donald Trump as his choice for transportation secretary, an official briefed on the matter told reporters on Tuesday. The announcement is expected to come this afternoon. Chao served as secretary of labor under President George W. Bush from 2001 through 2009 -- the longest tenure in the position since World War II -- and has been married to McConnell since 1993. She was the first Asian-American woman to serve in a Cabinet position.At the Transportation Department, Chao would have a key role in helping Trump get an infrastructure spending bill passed through Congress and start government-backed works projects -- a role likely to be complicated by her relationship with McConnell, who will also be a critical player in any infrastructure bill negotiations.