Rep. Chris Collins said he will not be taking a role in President-elect Donald Trump's administration, although he is working for Trump's transition team, during an interview on CNN's "New Day."
"I explained to the president-elect on the morning of the election that I was staying in Congress," the New York Republican said. He added that with his committee assignments, he has "a lot of legislative work to do to put bills on his desk to be signed."
"He honored me by making me the congressional liaison to the transition team. I'm helping put forth names, I'm not filling the jobs."
When asked if any Democrats were being considered, Collins said he had named four candidates. "We're looking for the best and brightest," Collins said, but did not want to publicly reveal those names. "I wouldn't want to let anyone know that in case they don't get a job."
Collins was in favor of bipartisanship in the Trump administration. "I could see Democrats entering the administration at the undersecretary level. You know, who knows? Even at a secretary level, but certainly as a deputy, or somewhere as an undersecretary… I have a lot of good friends who are Democrats, we just agree to disagree on national policy."
Politico reported that many presidents have put members of the opposite party in Cabinet positions, such as when President Barack Obama appointed Republicans as secretary of defense and secretary of transportation.
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