Now Presbo is trying to shield his Czars from being forced to testify before Congress about decisions they have made and official actions they have taken. PresBo told Congress that his Czars will not appear before Congress.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/23/czar-war-escalates-between-congress-white-house/
The White House has told Congress it will reject calls for many of President Obama's policy czars to testify before Congress - a decision senators said goes against the president's promises of transparency and openness and treads on Congress' constitutional mandate to investigate the administration's actions.
Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Republican, said White House counsel Greg Craig told her in a meeting Wednesday that they will not make available any of the czars who work in the White House and don't have to go through Senate confirmation. She said he was "murky" on whether other czars outside of the White House would be allowed to come before Congress.
Miss Collins said that doesn't make sense when some of those czars are actually making policy or negotiating on behalf of Mr. Obama.
"I think Congress should be able to call the president's climate czar, Carol Browner, the energy and environment czar, to ask her about the negotiations she conducted with the automobile industry that led to very significant policy changes with regard to emissions standards," Miss Collins said at a hearing Thursday that examined the proliferation of czars.
Do I need to say that this is a bad thing? The REASON that cabinet appointees face Congressional scrutiny is because of the amount of power that each appointed member holds. By requiring Congressional approval, some control of the types of people occupying the highest echelon of our Government is exercised by the representatives of the States... the Senate.
But PresBo wants these unelected, unconfirmed appointees to continue to exercise power without ever being questioned about it or held accountable for their actions.
And this is bad...
The whole executive priviledge thing once again. Obama seems to have forgotten his promises of greater transparency and openess and stands by while his aides slag any one who tells us the emperor is naked.
ReplyDeleteOh well, at least we can vote in 2010, whether he listens....
Actually, if they have no power to order anyone to do anything except provide consulting to the President...no one would care. The minute that they act as a officer of the government...like a cabinet officer....I think their game goes down the tubes.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, Ripley and bassel. They are acting as more than dvisors, they are setting and negotiating public policy. They should be confirmed in the Senate, just like the cabinet, and their exercise of power MUST be limited.
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