Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) was the one who offered the amendment to combat what he called “a very disturbing proliferation of czars” under Obama.
“These unappointed, unaccountable people who are literally running a shadow government, heading up these little fiefdoms that nobody can really seem to identify where they are or what they’re doing,” Scalise said Thursday. “But we do know that they’re wielding vast amounts of power.”
He's especially focused on former energy and climate adviser Carol Browner.
“It was found out that it was the climate czar that actually doctored the president’s own scientific study to try to say that scientists that the president appointed recommended a moratorium on drilling,” Scalise said. “It turned out the scientists didn’t say that at all.”
Needless to say, Obama's Justice department found that Browner did nothing wrong.
The whole idea of 'czars' who bypass congressional oversight is characteristic of this administration. Remember when we were told it was going to be the most transparent administration in history by a certain teleprompter wielding community organizer?
(via memeorandum)
UPDATE: it really is a new day in DC! Last night, in another bipartisan vote (though with only two Democrats), the House voted to forbid the FCC from using any funds to implement its December net neutrality order.
Obama's FCC issued the order in December in defiance of Congress which rejected net neutrality legislation, as well as the DC Circuit Court of Appeals which had rejected FCC net neutrality rules. Not that silly things like Congress or the courts was going to stop the Obama Administration, but Congress closing the purse strings just might.
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Love it. Unfunding that garbage was one of the first things i had hoped the new congress would try to do.
ReplyDeleteObama thought he was some kind of king who answers to no one. but banana republics are down below.
ReplyDeleteSupposedly the United States is a country founded upon the rule of law or something to this effect and supposedly it is government by the people, of the people, and for the people. In addition, it is supposed to be transparent. With that said there is something creepy about having "czars" who aren't accountable to the elected Congress. Even the name "czar" is creepy.
ReplyDeleteThe news media does an excellent job at uncovering things like Republican scandals and shining a spot light on the human rights violations of dictators on the other side of the world like Hosni Mubarak. Where is the scrutiny on these people? Isn't it important to know what these people are up to. I certainly think so.
Perhaps what they are doing is good and noble and should be continued. Shouldn't we know something about what these people are doing. After all, top corporate executives have a huge media spot light on them. These people are far more powerful than any corporate executive. They should be held to at least the same standard as top corporate executives.