Sens. Ask President Bush to Remove A. Wiliams from WH Commission

[rodeodance]

http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/~lautenberg/press/2003/01/2005112845.html

Lautenberg and Reid Ask President Bush to Remove Armstrong Wiliams from White House Commission

January 12, 2005



WASHINGTON, DC -- In a letter sent today to President Bush, U.S Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) urged the President to remove journalist Armstrong Williams from his official position on the President's Commission on White House Fellowships. Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Bush Administration had paid Mr. Williams $240,000 "to regularly comment on during the course of his broadcasts," and to provide Education Secretary Paige and other Education Department officials "the option of appearing from time to time as studio guests." The President's Commission on White House Fellowships runs the White House Fellows Program, a prestigious program that places young men and women as special assistants to officials at the highest levels of the Federal government for a one year term.

In their letter to President Bush today, the lawmakers stated, "In light of the pending investigations into your Administration's ties with Mr. Williams, we believe it is appropriate to remove Mr. Williams from the President's Commission. In our view, Mr. Williams should not be affiliated with official White House offices while a determination of the legality of your Administration's $240,000 payment to him is pending."
Lautenberg and Reid Ask President Bush to Remove Armstrong Wiliams
from White House Commission
Investigations of the legality of this payment are likely to begin soon out of the Education Department and the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

"While this payola investigation is going on, the Bush Administration needs to cut its ties to Mr. Williams," said Senator Lautenberg......

[Ganja Ninja]

1. Time to stop spending our money on your shills Bush. n/t

[rodeodance]

2. it is a good sign that these Sens. made a public statement on this matter.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. Senate Democrats anyway.

Don't know how much weight this will hold.