The arrogance of a Congress not subject to term limits:
<<Lawmakers Slam White House 'Attitude Problem'
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers from both parties blistered the Bush administration on Thursday for "a severe attitude problem" in its dealings with Congress, citing a public campaign against their pet projects and Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge's refusal to testify on Capitol Hill.
Appearing before a House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee, White House Budget Director Mitch Daniels apologized for any "inadvertent" impression created that the White House was slighting Congress' constitutional role, but defended the effort to restrict the so-called earmarking of budget funds for programs in individual lawmakers' districts.
"You and several others in the administration, in my view, have a severe attitude problem," said Wisconsin Rep. David Obey, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, which wields considerable power through its control of the federal government's purse strings.
"I sense you and other Cabinet members feel you could get about the people's business better if it wasn't for the small-minded and inconsequential rabble on Capitol Hill that you have to deal with," Obey said.
The administration angered many lawmakers when it ridiculed a range of earmarked projects, including an $80,000 rescue sled backed by Obey for use on frozen lakes, in its recent budget request. The move was part of a drive to cut their numbers, which have doubled over the last two years to over 7,800.
That anger has been fed by Ridge's refusal to testify on how the tens of billions of dollars set aside for U.S. homeland security efforts are being spent. The White House maintains he does not have to appear before Congress because he is a presidential adviser, not a Cabinet secretary or agency head.
BIPARTISAN CRITICISM
"I have to be direct, I am dissatisfied with both the quantity and quality of information coming out of the administration as it relates to homeland security," said Oklahoma Republican Rep. Ernest Istook, who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee on Treasury and General Government, which controls the White House's budget.
"I hope that the lack of necessary information does not compel us to withhold funds for the priorities established by the president," he said.
Obey added, "No information, no money."
In response Daniels said that while he now hoped to mend fences with Congress on the earmarking question and it might be time "to let this subject go," lawmakers would also have to accept that times had changed since Sept. 11.
"There are transcendent priorities; the protection of America and the defeat of a foe that's out to harm us," he said. "Individual and provincial and territorial priorities, however important they may be in isolation, may have to give way this year, will have to give way."
Daniels acknowledged the question of how Ridge should interact with Congress was a legitimate one, but said he could shed little light on it because it was outside his particular area.
"I will say this, I know ... the president and his support team absolutely affirm the constitutional importance of the Congress," he said. "There may be differences of interpretation when it gets to a single job.">> |
