Sam Johnson calls for Senate confirmation for White House Czars.
“Rein in the czars!”
Today on the floor of the House, U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd District, Texas), citing an urgent need for transparency and accountability with the presidential appointments of czars, announced his support of legislation that would withhold funding from any czar not confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
With annual salaries up to $172,000 - in addition to unchecked staff, office and travel budgets - Congressman Johnson sees the appointments as a growing problem costing taxpayers millions. For example, earlier this year, President Obama’s Stimulus Accountability Czar announced that the stimulus accountability website would receive a costly $18 million makeover at taxpayers’ expense.
The czars have bypassed Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution which mandates the advice and consent of the Senate when the President appoints top-level officers. Johnson believes that the President should keep his campaign promise of government transparency and require his closest policy advisors to come before the Senate and undergo the constitutionally-mandated vetting and approval process.
Johnson co-sponsored H.R. 3226, the Czar Accountability and Reform Act, which would withhold funding from any czar not confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In addition, Johnson supports H.Con.Res.185, a congressional resolution that would request the President to certify the qualifications and responsibilities of czars. Johnson feels that czars wield extraordinary unchecked power and influence and the American people have a right to know who they are, their qualifications, their potential conflicts of interest, and what their job descriptions will be. Johnson maintains that the President has an obligation to disclose this information. For example, why was a 31-year-old with no background in the auto industry appointed to serve as the car czar?
Johnson’s prepared remarks follow:
“Since being sworn in, the President has appointed 34 czars… a health czar, a car czar, an urban czar and a Great Lakes czar, to name a few. In 300 years, czarist Russia had just 18 czars. Why do we need an energy czar and a Secretary of Energy or a health czar and a Secretary of Health?
“Worse, 27 of 34 czars have not even been confirmed by the Senate - despite the Constitution’s requirement. These czars make $172,000 yearly and that does not include expensive, unchecked staff and budgets - with zero accountability. I back legislation that would withhold funding from any czar not confirmed by the Senate.
“Americans want, need, and deserve transparency and accountability. Let’s rein in the czars.”