GOP votes to dethrone Obama's policy 'czars'

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The House GOP approved an amendment to a government-spending bill that would block funding for the Obama administration’s so-called policy "czars,” appointed advisers to the president that have been much-criticized by Republicans.

The vote was 249-171.

The amendment, offered by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), specifically targets Obama’s “climate czar” by blocking funding for the assistant to the president for energy and climate change, the position's official title. The amendment would block funding for the 'czars' through the end of the fiscal year, when the spending bill would run out. The underlying bill also includes a provision to block funding for the position.

"I think this sends a strong signal to the president that we are tired of him running this shadow government, where they have got these czars that are literally circumventing the accountability and scrutiny that goes with Senate confirmation," Scalise said after the vote.

Carol Browner, who currently holds the position, announced last month that she will resign, leaving the future of the office in doubt.

Scalise said the measure blocking the czars also makes good fiscal sense.

"We are going to save millions of taxpayer dollars, but we are also going to send him a signal that he is going to have to hold his administration accountable to the same transparency that he promised, but has unfortunately failed to deliver," he said.

Republicans railed against Browner and Obama’s other policy advisers, arguing they played too great a role in the president’s policy decisions for officials that were appointed rather than confirmed by Congress.

The amendment would also prohibit funding for the director of the White House Office of Health Reform; the State Department’s special envoy for climate change; the special adviser for green jobs, enterprise and innovation at the Council on Environmental Quality; the senior adviser to the secretary of the treasury assigned to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and senior counselor for manufacturing policy; the White House director of urban affairs; the special envoy to oversee the closure of Guantanamo Bay; the special master for TARP executive compensation at the Department of the Treasury; and the associate general counsel and chief diversity officer at the Federal Communications Commission.

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/144961-house-republicans-vote-to-defund-obamas-policy-czars

[Ban Hammer 13,358]

this is gonna get interesting.

[Zero Sum 305]

Accountability is a good thing. I hope they will also (in Congress) allow complete transparency in who's buying their votes.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

this is gonna get interesting.

Yep. Especially since I don't recall the GOP ever raising any issue over the 30 some odd czars that W had. But hey, it's okay when a GOP President does it, right?

[Ban Hammer 13,358]

Yep. Especially since I don't recall the GOP ever raising any issue over the 30 some odd czars that W had. But hey, it's okay when a GOP President does it, right?

how many did bush have compared to obama?

[Kevin and 10]

Accountability is a good thing. I hope they will also (in Congress) allow complete transparency in who's buying their votes.

opensecrets.org

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

how many did bush have compared to obama?

33 vs. 37 - it's not as dramatic a change as they now want to make it appear.

[Zero Sum 305]

opensecrets.org

on a .gov I'm sure many would have hissy fits about how true the information was, then use it the next day with cherry picked data. Insanity at its best.

[Ban Hammer 13,358]

33 vs. 37 - it's not as dramatic a change as they now want to make it appear.

still an increase.....

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

still an increase.....

Well, if increase is the trigger, then the GOP should have been up in arms when the czars ballooned from 9 under Clinton to 33 under W. That didn't happen, did it? So, the trigger is something other than the slight increase and we both know that. Let's at least try and be honest about it.

[Ban Hammer 13,358]

Well, if increase is the trigger, then the GOP should have been up in arms when the czars ballooned from 9 under Clinton to 33 under W. That didn't happen, did it? So, the trigger is something other than the slight increase and we both know that. Let's at least try and be honest about it.

i'm sensing some jealousy that the dems didn't think of this first...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

i'm sensing some jealousy that the dems didn't think of this first...

Not really - it's not an issue that addresses anything that really needs to be addressed.

[Ban Hammer 13,358]

Not really - it's not an issue that addresses anything that really needs to be addressed.

obviously it is to some.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

33 vs. 37 - it's not as dramatic a change as they now want to make it appear.

Beck counted 32 with 3 to be announced back in July of 2009:

List of Obama’s Czars

Friday, Aug 21, 2009 at 5:26 AM EDT

As of July 20, 2009:

• The Brainroom counts 32 czars in the Obama administration, based on media reports from reputable sources that have identified the official in question as a czar.

• In addition, President Obama has said that he will create the position of cyber czar, and there have been media reports that there could be a health insurance czar and a copyright czar. When and if those positions are filled, that would bring the total to 35.

• Since czar isn’t an official job title, the number is somewhat in the eye of the beholder.

NOTE: positions that also existed under previous administrations are indicated with an *.

(list)

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/29391/

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Beck counted 32 with 3 to be announced back in July of 2009:

Beck rarely gets things right.