Obama Administration Refuses to Answer Questions About Czars

Yesterday, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, held a hearing on the Constitutionality of the Obama Administration's use of "czars," which was notable for the lack of a White House witness, despite an invitation from Feingold to testify. Feingold called the White House decision not to testify "unfortunate", and also "a bit ironic since one of the concerns that has been raised about these officials is that they will thwart congressional oversight of the Executive Branch." He further scolded the White House for wanting "to fight attacks against it for having too many czars on a political level rather than a substantive level.... If there are good answers to the questions raised, why not give them instead of attacking the motives or good faith of those who have raised questions?"

Feingold did get a letter from White House counsel Gregory Craig arguing that none of the czars appointed by Obama present "any valid concerns about accountability, transparency or congressional oversight." Their only job is to "help coordinate" existing federal agencies and "help devise comprehensive solutions to complex problems."

Feingold noted, as did all the witnesses, Democratic and Republican, that there is no problem with "czars" who are confirmed by the Senate (9), or who report to a Senate-confirmed official, and who are willing to testify before Congress (16 of 32 listed "czars"). The concern, he and others said, are White House advisors who are exercising legal authority or binding the executive branch without having been given that authority by Congress.