Washington in 5 minutes

POLITICS

Martinez won’t seek re-election

Sen. Mel Martinez, Florida Republican, said Tuesday he will not seek re-election in 2010, ensuring a high-stakes fight in the battleground state of Florida.

Mr. Martinez at one time served as chairman of the Republican National Committee under President Bush.

“The inescapable truth, for me, is that the call to public service is strong, but the call to home, family and lifelong friends is even stronger,” Mr. Martinez said.

It is not clear whether Florida’s chief financial officer, Alex Sink, considered to be the state’s most visible Democrat, would run for the open seat. Democratic Rep. Ron Klein, who ousted Florida Republican Clay Shaw, would also be a likely choice among Democrats for the seat.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush is seriously considering a run and has received e-mails of encouragement from many party and elected officials, according to a former political adviser close to Mr. Bush who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the former governor is not ready to publicly discuss his plans.

Several Florida congressman also are considered potential candidates, including Democratic Reps. Kendrick Meek and Allen Boyd and Republican Reps. Vern Buchanan and Connie Mack, son of former Sen. Connie Mack. State Attorney General Bill McCollum is another possibility.

PENTAGON

Gates looks to Obama priorities

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates signaled a willingness Tuesday to forge ahead with two key priorities for the incoming Obama administration - accelerating the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and shutting down the Guantanamo Bay detention center.

As the only Republican Cabinet member asked to stay on by President-elect Barack Obama, Mr. Gates told reporters that military commanders are looking at ways to more quickly pull troops out of Iraq in light of the 16-month timetable that was a centerpiece of the Democrat’s campaign.

He also said it will be a high priority to work with the new Congress on legislation that will enable the U.S. to close the detention center at the U.S. naval base in Cuba, where about 250 terrorism suspects are still being held.

Mr. Gates said his agreement to stay on at the Pentagon is “open-ended” and that there is no timeline for his departure.

“I have no intention of being a caretaker secretary,” he said.

MEDIA

Cox Newspapers to close bureau

Cox Newspapers said Tuesday it will shut its Washington office in April, citing a need to limit costs in a tightening economy.

The Washington bureau, founded in 1974, provides national and international news to 17 Cox newspapers across the country. The closure, which also includes five foreign bureaus, will affect about two dozen employees.

“For more than 30 years, the reporters of this bureau have broken an untold number of stories that have had an impact on the lives of our readers in cities and towns all across the U.S.,” Sandy Schwartz, Cox Newspapers president, said in a statement. “The Cox Washington bureau has won or shared virtually every major American journalism award, including the Pulitzer Prize.”

It is the second news organization in recent months to announce the closing of offices in the nation’s capital. Newhouse News Service, which provided Washington and national news to newspapers for half a century, shut down Nov. 7. That news service had 24 employees.

CONGRESS

Lawmakers warn against trade pact

Four senior U.S. lawmakers warned President Bush on Tuesday against rushing during his final weeks in office to reach a world trade agreement that could end up being rejected by Congress.

“We have strong doubts that a ministerial meeting at this time can achieve the breakthrough that actually provides the new trade flows needed to spur the global economy and help deliver on Doha’s development promise,” the bipartisan group said in a letter to Mr. Bush.

The warning came as members of the World Trade Organization appeared to be edging toward a trade ministers meeting the middle of this month in Geneva to achieve a breakthrough in the long-running Doha round of world trade talks.

That has made U.S. farm and business groups nervous the White House could settle for a deal requiring the United States to cut farm subsidies and tariffs on certain agricultural and manufactured goods without major developing countries like China and India opening their markets in return.

WHITE HOUSE

Impeachment ornament rejected

’Tis not the season to post calls for impeachment on the White House Christmas tree.

A spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush said Tuesday that the White House tree will not include an ornament by a Seattle artist who supports President Bush’s impeachment.

Artist Deborah Lawrence said she wanted to salute Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott of Seattle, a longtime Bush foe who backs impeachment.

The nine-inch ball Miss Lawrence created is covered with swirly red and white stripes and features a picture of Mr. McDermott. Tiny glued-on text hails the impeachment resolution.

Mrs. Bush had asked members of Congress to pick artists to decorate ornaments for the White House tree to showcase all 435 congressional districts.

Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Bush, called the ornament inappropriate. “I think it really is a shame and, quite frankly, not very much in the holiday spirit,” she said.

From wire dispatches and staff reports