GSA to go Bush
By MARK KUKIS
WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (UPI) - The White House's General Services Administration was set to hand over transition space and federal funds to GOP Texas Gov. George W. Bush on news of the Supreme Court ruling against Vice President Al Gore, whose hopes for overturning Bush's certified Florida victory dwindled Wednesday.
"I think that we've seen something happen that is a major marker in this process," said General Services Administration spokeswoman Beth Newburger, who hinted that the high court's block of Gore's Florida recount request was enough confirmation of Bush's apparent victory to free $5.3 million in federal transition resources that have remained in limbo since Nov. 7.
General Services Administration chief Dave Barram is expected to make a statement sometime Wednesday, perhaps before Gore and his legal advisers have a chance to react publicly to the latest legal development. Barram has total discretion to release the funds once a winner is "apparent," according to federal law. So far, Barram has left the transition resources on hold while Democratic legal challenges to Bush's certified Florida victory play out.
At issue is financing and office space in Washington dedicated for an incoming administration's work through inauguration Jan. 20. On two floors in one of Washington's most expensive commercial areas, some 90,000 square feet of office space complete with computers and phone lines to accommodate 540 employees has sat empty since the White House race between Bush and Gore fell into confusion more than a month ago. The lease for the transition offices costs an estimated $700,000. The rest of the funding goes toward salaries, travel and other transition-related expenses.
The White House transition resources have become a political prize of sorts as both Bush and Gore sought ways to lend credence to their competing claims to the presidency amid a conflicted vote count in Florida, where Bush managed to eek out a 537-ballot lead over Gore to clench the Sunshine State's crucial 25 Electoral College votes.
Both candidates had moved ahead with tentative transition plans, though Bush made a greater effort to promote his would-be White House publicly with appearances alongside prominent Republicans like Colin Powell, Bush's likely pick for secretary of state. Gore, meanwhile, held transition meetings with his staff behind closed doors at the White house and made no suggestions about cabinet picks.
Bush's campaign raised the profile of its transition efforts recently by opening an office with private funds on the outskirts of Washington. But so far little work appears to have been done in the space, located in McClain, Va. Most of planning or Bush administration has taken place in Austin, where Bush has met with his staff and Capitol Hill Republicans.
Meanwhile, Bush's running mate Dick Cheney has worked on pending transition issues from Washington, holding press conferences and meeting with top lawmakers regularly. |
