Former Gov. Mabus named Navy secretary

Senate confirms former Mississippi governor as Navy secretary

Ray Mabus, a former governor of Mississippi and U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has been named Secretary of the Navy by the U.S. Senate, putting him in a key post in the Obama administration.

"He's going to be a very good choice," said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington Institute, a think tank in Arlington, Va.

Thompson said Mabus has a close relationship with Obama and a good understanding of global diplomacy. But it's Mabus' political skills that will be particularly useful in his new role, Thompson said.

Mabus will oversee a department with a $125 billion budget and 900,000 workers. His duties will include oversight of recruiting, training and mobilizing and construction and repairs of Naval ships and facilities.

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FLORIDA: Cigarette tax to be approved by Gov. Crist

GEORGIA: State could gain additional congressional seat

KENTUCKY: Sen. Bunning calls Sen. McConnell a 'control freak'

LOUISIANA: Legislature to debate public records of governor's office today

NORTH CAROLINA: Two senators work to oppose FDA's regulation of cigarettes

SOUTH CAROLINA: Budget battle erupts after Gov. Sanford's veto of spending plan

TENNESSEE: Dredging of massive ash spill threatens fish population

VIRGINIA: Legislators consider if state laws cover 'sexting'

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