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Obama Skirts Accountability With Policy Czars: Hutchison

Rules are being bent to expand executive power, senator writes

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 13, 2009 2:42 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The Obama administration is using its many policy “czars” to skirt the accountability and transparency established by the founding fathers, writes Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Washington Post. The administration has an “unprecedented” 32 czar positions, and “unfortunately,” the senator from Texas writes, “virtually no one can say with certainty what these individuals do or what limits are placed on their authority.”

Hutchison notes that as the senior Republican on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, she deals with issues that concern at least 10 of the czars’ policy specializations—but the president submitted only two for consideration before letting them start their ambiguous work. And the committee can’t compel czars to explain what they are doing, even though they are likely working in the same policy areas. Van Jones’ resignation highlighted the fact that some of these czars may hold radical views and would not pass Senate confirmation, she says. Sadly, much is still unknown about those that remain.

SANTA MONICA, CA - JUNE 14: Eco-activist Van Jones accepts an award at Global Green USA's 12th Annual Green Cross Millennium Awards on June 14, 2008 in Santa Monica, California.
SANTA MONICA, CA - JUNE 14: Eco-activist Van Jones accepts an award at Global Green USA's 12th Annual Green Cross Millennium Awards on June 14, 2008 in Santa Monica, California.   (Getty Images)
U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, R- Texas, speaks to the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in San Antonio, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009.
U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, R- Texas, speaks to the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in San Antonio, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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It is Congress's duty to know who is serving at the highest levels of government, what they are doing, and what qualifications or complications these people bring to the job. - Kay Bailey Hutchison, US Senator-Texas

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
Shannonals
Sep 25, 2009 2:30 AM CDT
You can thank GWB for the putting an end to vetting Czars
Shannonals
Sep 25, 2009 2:29 AM CDT
Most likely would have taken your comment at face value NovThird2010 if you hadn't bothered to put the, "Hussein" comment in your posting.
Enoughie
Sep 14, 2009 2:14 AM CDT
Finally a levelheaded response with some fact checking. Thank you! This was quite informative. At any rate, I'm getting tired of this liberal-pro-Obama vs. conservative-anti-Obama back and forth bickering. As a libertarian (who did not vote for either Obama or McCain) I don't find Obama's policies as "far-left" and "polarizing" as some of the media is trying to portray them. In fact, I think that - other than the "stimulus package" (which the previous admin. passed as well.. and I think both were a dreadful mistake) - the Obama administration's policies are mostly market oriented and sensible. So instead of making idiotic comparisons to Nazism, Fascism or even Socialism from the Conservatives, or constant references to the GWB admin. (which I think was a dark age in American politics) from Liberals, you start treating the policies, issues, and "scandals" on a levelheaded basis. This overly emotional partisan hate spewing is starting to be really annoying.

 
Senate • czar • Kay Bailey Hutchison • transparency • separation of powers • President Obama • founding fathers • Van Jones

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