Maine Republican Susan Collins introduced a measure in the Senate Tuesday to restrict federal funds for at least 18 czars appointed by President Obama unless they agree to testify before Congress and provide a public report about their specific roles in the administration.

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PD toolbar!In a speech on the Senate floor, Collins said that the Obama administration's creation of more than a dozen "czar" positions circumvents congressional oversight and hurts both transparency and accountability in Washington.

"Little information is available concerning (the czars') responsibilities and authorities. There is no careful Senate examination of their character and qualifications. And we are speaking here of some of the most senior positions within our government," Collins said. "Who is responsible for what? Who is in charge -- the czar or the Cabinet official? Who can Congress and the American people hold accountable for government policies that affect daily life?"

Collins introduced the legislation as an amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill, which the Senate is debating this week. It would require the president to certify to Congress that every czar will comply with "reasonable requests" to testify before Congress, and would also require every czar to issue a public report twice a year on what they've done in their jobs during the previous six months, including their roles in developing new rules, laws or regulations.

Collins said she does not believe that all of the 30-plus "czars" who have been discussed in the media recently are circumventing oversight. Some, like the director of National Security, are sometimes referred to as "czars" in press reports, when they are already high-level federal officials who report regularly to Congress.

Over the last several months, Republicans and at least two Democrats have formally raised concerns about the number of Obama's special appointments as senior White House advisers, who are subject to no formal oversight. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.) wrote in a letter to Obama that his liberal use of special advisers may violate the Appointments Clause in Article 2 of the Constitution.

Collins said yesterday, "We must rebuild and continually fortify the cherished standards of accountability, oversight, and transparency -- not erode them further." Her office said that the amendment is under consideration now by the Senate, but that a vote has not yet been scheduled.


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