WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. John Spratt's name is being floated for a post in the Obama administration that would take advantage of his economic expertise as chairman of the House Budget Committee.
Spratt is at the top of a list of three possible directors of the White House Office of Management and Budget, The Associated Press reported last week. The New York Times and other publications also have mentioned Spratt as a possible Obama appointee.
Spratt, a York Democrat, said he has had no contact with President-elect Barack Obama or his aides about an administration post.
"Nobody's offered me the (OMB) job, and I haven't sought it," Spratt said in an interview. "Having just run for re-election, I'm happy to be where I am. We'll see how it plays out, but there are a lot of other qualified people."
Spratt, 66, has chaired the House Budget Committee for almost two years. Prior to that, he was the senior Democrat on the committee for a decade.
In an article last month about Obama's possible Cabinet members, Congressional Quarterly wrote of Spratt -- "His budgetary expertise, along with his amiability and wonkishness, has won him broad bipartisan admiration."
Spratt said he might be able to aid Obama more by retaining his committee chairmanship and helping the U.S. senator from Illinois move his budgets through Congress after he becomes president Jan. 20.
"I'm trying not to be presumptuous about this," Spratt said. "It hasn't been proposed to me."
Spratt did not rule out considering a senior executive position were it to be offered.
"I'm certainly willing to talk, but so far we haven't had any negotiations or any contacts," he said.
Republicans long have coveted Spratt's congressional seat, regularly fielding candidates to run against him. While Spratt has turned away those challengers, another Democrat might not fare as well in the Republican-leaning district.
Lists of potential appointees being circulated by Democratic officials also include the names of two other prominent South Carolina political figures.
Rep. Jim Clyburn's name is included on a short list of potential Housing and Urban Development secretaries.
Clyburn has said he prefers to remain in Congress.
Inez Tenenbaum, former S.C. superintendent of schools, appears on a list of those being considered for Education Secretary.
Tenenbaum has said she would be interested in an education post in the Obama administration.
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