* Malfeasances & Congress' Abdication of its Oversight Responsibility

[paineinthearse]

Go to http://democrats.reform.house.gov/investigations.asp?Issue=Administration+Oversight to read articles in full. All are hotlinked to pdf files.

Representative Henry Waxman, in the absence of any meaningful oversight by the executive branch by the republican-dominated Government Reforums Committee, runs a website that chronicles the activities of the minority Democarts. Below is one extracted page that lists issue after issue of exective branch malfeasance.

Look at the information in light of the 2006 mid-term elections: IF THE DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED THE HOUSE, EACH OF THESE SCANDALS AND MALFEASANCES WOULD HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED. Do you see the importance of winning back the house?

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Administration Oversight

Congress has a responsibility under the Constitution to conduct oversight of the executive branch. The Committee on Government Reform has the specific responsibility to oversee whether laws and programs are being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of Congress and whether they should be continued, curtailed, or eliminated; the application, administration, execution, and effectiveness of laws and programs; and the organization and operation of federal agencies and entities having responsibilities for the administration and execution of laws and programs. As set forth in House Rule X, clause 4, the Committee also may, at any time, conduct investigations of any matter regardless of whether another standing committee has jurisdiction over the matter. (Last Updated Feb. 8, 2005)

Special Features

Politics & Science: Investigating the State of Science Under the Bush Administration

Iraq on the Record: The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq

Fact Sheets

Congress’ Abdication of Oversight Responsibility

Chronology

Thursday, February 10, 2005
Members Ask for Hearings on Withheld 9/11 Information
Reps. Waxman and Maloney ask for hearings on whether political considerations caused the Administration to delay release of findings by the 9/11 Commission about pre-attack warnings.
- Letter to Chairman Davis
- 9/11 Commission Report

Wednesday, February 09, 2005
DOD Pay Plan Would Reward Political Appointees
Rep. Waxman, Sen. Akaka and Rep. Danny Davis express serious concerns about a Defense Department plan to give higher raises to political appointees than to career employees.
- Letter to DOD and OPM

Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Proposed Committee Oversight Plan Omits Administration Abuses
Rep. Waxman asks Chairman Davis to amend the Committee's oversight plan to include consideration of the treatment of detainees, the use of covert propaganda, the politicization of science, conflicts of interest, the rise in government secrecy, and other important issues that Congress has failed to address.
- Letter to Chairman Davis

Monday, February 07, 2005
Governmentwide Civil Service Changes Misguided and Premature
Democratic Whip Hoyer, Rep. Waxman, and seven other Democratic members of Congress object to the Administration's plan to expand the elimination of civil service protections from the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to the rest of the federal government.
- Letter to the President

Monday, January 31, 2005
Questions Raised About Office of Special Counsel
Rep. Waxman and other members of Congress seek more information about recent management decisions made by the Office of Special Counsel, including a decision to require a dozen senior DC-based employees to transfer to field offices.
- Letter to OSC
- Letter to GAO

Thursday, January 13, 2005
Questions Raised on Potential Conflicts of Interest at DHS
Rep. Waxman and Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson ask Secretary Ridge to disclose contacts between top Department of Homeland Security officials and Blank Rome, a firm that lobbies the department extensively for federal contracts.
- Letter to Secretary Ridge

Friday, October 22, 2004
9/11 Legislation May Be Vehicle to Relax Member Financial Disclosure Requirements
Rep. Waxman writes Senate Majority Leader Frist and House Speaker Hastert to urge them to reject a last-minute effort to insert provisions undermining financial disclosure laws in the 9/11 legislation.
- Letter to Majority Leader Frist and Speaker Hastert

Thursday, October 21, 2004
The Politicization of Inspectors General
A new report released by Rep. Waxman finds that the President has repeatedly appointed individuals with Republican political backgrounds to serve as nonpartisan Inspectors General at federal departments and agencies.
- The Report

Friday, October 08, 2004
Waxman Asks Administration to Disclose Identities of U.S. Companies that Worked in Iraq
In a letter to CIA Director Goss, Rep. Waxman questions why the Administration is concealing the identities of U.S. corporations that did business in Saddam Hussein's Iraq under the U.N. Oil for Food program.
- Letter to Director Goss

Friday, October 01, 2004
Congress’ Abdication of Oversight Responsibility
Rep. Waxman releases a fact sheet detailing the Republican leadership’s four-year failure to conduct investigations of misconduct involving Bush Administration officials.
- Fact Sheet

Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Secrecy in the Bush Administration
A comprehensive report released by Rep. Waxman shows that the Bush Administration has consistently undermined the laws that promote public access to government records while systematically expanding the laws that authorize secret government operations. Rep. Waxman and other members of the Government Reform Committee are introducing the Restore Open Government Act to reverse this assault on the principle of open and accountable government.
- More on Secrecy in the Bush Administration

Friday, August 06, 2004
Justice Dept. Conduct in Berger Case Questioned
Rep. Waxman asks Attorney General Ashcroft to explain why senior officials in the Justice Department overruled the judgment of career prosecutors and authorized the release of detailed information about Sandy Berger requested by Republican congressional staff.
- Letter to AG Ashcroft

Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Berger Investigation Questioned
In a letter to Chairman Davis, Rep Waxman writes that the Government Reform Committee is applying a different standard to former Clinton-appointee Sandy Berger than it has applied to Bush Administration officials.
- Letter to Chairman Davis
- Chairman Davis' Response
- July 28 Letter to Chairman Davis
- Attachment: Dec. 11 Letter
- Attachment: Oct. 8 Memo

Tuesday, June 22, 2004
State Department Releases Revised Terrorism Data
New data, released by the State Department to correct serious mistakes in the initial Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003 report, shows a major increase in deaths and injuries in terrorist attacks in 2003, with “significant” attacks reaching a 20-year high.
- Rep. Waxman's Statement

Thursday, May 27, 2004
Noncompetitive Contracts Soar under Bush Administration
A new report released by Rep. Waxman shows that the Bush Administration awarded $107 billion in sole-source and other noncompetitive contracts in fiscal year 2003, an increase of 60% compared to the last year of the Clinton Administration.
- Rep. Waxman's Statement
- The Report

Monday, May 17, 2004
Data Manipulation Behind Reported Drop in Terrorism
Rep. Waxman criticizes the Patterns of Global Terrorism report for claiming that terrorism reached a record low in 2003 when the underlying data shows that significant terrorist activity was actually at a 20-year high.
- Letter to the State Department

Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Government Paperwork Increases Substantially under Bush Administration
A new report released by Reps. Tierney and Waxman shows that despite the President’s repeated promises to reduce the burden of government paperwork, the number of hours Americans spend filling out government forms has increased significantly under the Bush Administration.
- The Report (updated May 19, 2004)

Monday, April 12, 2004
Justice Department Asked to Release Information on Post-Sept. 11 Departure of Saudi Citizens
Rep. Waxman urges the Justice Department to disclose publicly information provided to the Committee in a classified FBI briefing on the departure of members of Osama bin Laden’s family and the Saudi royal family following the September 11, 2001, attacks.
- Letter to DOJ

Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Report Assesses Al Qaeda Attacks Before and After September 11, 2001
Rep. Waxman provides the September 11 Commission with a Congressional Research Service report that finds that al Qaeda attacks have increased since the President declared war on terrorism.
- CRS Report
- Letter to the Sept. 11 Commission

Thursday, April 01, 2004
Administration Attempted to Block EU Efforts to Reduce Risks of Chemical Exposure
A new report released by Rep. Waxman shows that the Administration, at the request of the U.S. chemical industry, mounted a campaign to block the efforts of the European Union to require company assessments of the risks of industrial chemicals.
- More on the Report

Wednesday, March 31, 2004
White House Counsel Called Sept. 11 Panel During Clarke Testimony
Rep. Waxman questions White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez on reports that he placed calls to members of the September 11 Commission during the testimony of former National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism Richard Clarke.
- Letter to White House Counsel

Monday, March 22, 2004
Members Urge DHS to Revise Personnel Plan
Rep. Waxman and the five minority members of the Civil Service Subcommittee express concerns about a new Department of Homeland Security personnel system that would infringe on employee collective bargaining and appeal rights without furthering the Department’s ability to perform its mission.
- Letter to DHS and OPM

Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Members Urge DOD to Submit Labor Plan Consistent with Intent of Congress
Rep. Waxman, along with Sens. Lieberman, Levin, Akaka, Durbin, and Reps. Skelton and Danny Davis, express serious concerns about an initial proposal for a new Defense Department labor relations system that effectively eliminates collective bargaining and makes changes to internal union procedures which have no relation to the Department’s national security mission.
- DOD Response
- Letter to DOD

Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Secret Service Questioned on White House Ricin Letter
Rep. Waxman asks about recent reports that the Secret Service waited six days to inform the U.S. Postal Service about the discovery of a ricin-contaminated letter addressed to the White House.
- Letter to U.S. Secret Service

Tuesday, February 10, 2004
U.S. Role in Evacuating Saudi Citizens Questioned
Rep. Waxman asks about the Justice Department's role in evacuating members of the bin Laden family and other Saudi citizens in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.
- Letter to DOJ

Friday, January 30, 2004
Supreme Court Urged to Consider Formal Recusal Process
Justice Scalia's refusal to recuse himself in the upcoming case involving Vice President Cheney's energy task force appears to conflict with the standard set in a 1996 case in which a federal judge was removed because of a friendship with former President Clinton.
- Letter to Chief Justice Rehnquist

Thursday, January 29, 2004
Members Asks for Investigation of DOD Handling of National Guard Case
Reps. Waxman, Clay, and Gephardt ask the Defense Department Inspector General to investigate whether a Republican state senator in Missouri who is also a member of the Missouri National Guard received special treatment from the Department of Defense.
- Letter to DOD IG

Wednesday, January 07, 2004
Federal Agency Cites HUD Nominee for Labor Violation
Rep. Waxman reveals that in December the Federal Labor Relations Authority found that Alphonso Jackson, President Bush's nominee for HUD Secretary, "interfered with the statutory rights" of HUD employees to participate in union activities.
- Letter to HUD IG
- Jan. 29 HUD Response
- Jan. 12 HUD Response

Monday, October 27, 2003
'Hit List' Targets NIH-Funded Researchers
Rep. Waxman expresses outrage at a list of more than 150 scientists funded by NIH who are being targeted for their research on HIV/AIDS, human sexuality, and risk-taking behaviors. NIH is now asking these scientists to provide additional justification for their work.
- Letter to HHS
- HHS Response
- Letter to HHS (Oct. 28)
- Letter to HHS (Nov. 13)
- NIH Response

Wednesday, September 03, 2003
Questions on Administration's Use of Executive Privilege
In a letter to White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales, Rep. Waxman questions the Executive Branch's apparently inconsistent and selective use of executive privilege to prevent disclosure of information related to pardons issued by President Clinton.
- Letter to White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales

Wednesday, June 25, 2003
FTC Asked to Address Youth Targeting and Industry Self-Regulation in Alcohol Advertising
Rep. Waxman and eight other members of Congress ask that the FTC, in its upcoming report on youth exposure to alcohol advertising, address new evidence on whether children and teenagers are disproportionately exposed to alcohol advertisements and whether current alcohol industry self-regulation on the targeting of underage consumers is proving sufficient.
- Letter to FTC

Friday, May 09, 2003
Cabinet Members Receive Average Tax Cut of $42,000 Under House Republican Plan
A new analysis shows that Vice President Cheney, President Bush, and other members of the Cabinet would receive an average tax cut of over $42,000 under the House Republican proposal to cut taxes on capital gains and dividends.
- The Analysis

Tuesday, May 06, 2003
The President's Visit to the USS Abraham Lincoln
Rep. Waxman asks GAO for an accounting of the cost of the President's recent dramatic landing on a visit to the aircraft carrier. The White House has admitted that the President could have traveled to the carrier, which was located just off the San Diego coast, less theatrically.
- Letter to GAO

Monday, May 05, 2003
Proposed Tax Cuts Would Provide Few Benefits for Kentucky Taxpayers
A new report analyzes the impact of proposed tax cuts in Kentucky. It finds that few Kentucky taxpayers would benefit from the proposal to reduce taxes on capital gains and dividends.
- The Report

Thursday, May 01, 2003
Administration Proposes Cuts in CDC's Budget, Neglects Decaying Public Health Infrastructure
Rep. Waxman protests the Administration's proposal to cut CDC's public health budget, citing the need for a strong public health infrastructure to protect the nation from SARS and other biological threats.
- Letter to Secretary Thompson

Wednesday, April 23, 2003
President's Proposed Tax Cuts Would Provide Few Benefits for Ohio Taxpayers
A new report analyzes the impact of President Bush's tax cut proposal in Ohio. It finds that few Ohio taxpayers would benefit from the proposal to eliminate taxes on dividends.
- Summary: Impact of the President's Tax Proposal in Ohio
- The Report

Thursday, April 10, 2003
Multi-Million Dollar Tax Savings for Top Executives
A new report released by Rep. Waxman shows that while President Bush's plan to eliminate personal income tax on dividends would have little impact on the average American, the three top executives at "Fortune 100" corporations would share an estimated tax savings of nearly $120 million each year. More than 20 top executives would each receive annual tax savings of over $1 million.
- The Report

Thursday, February 27, 2003
Suspected Terrorist Leader Meets with White House Staff
Rep. Waxman writes Secret Service Director Ralph Basham to ask why Sami Al-Arian, a suspected terrorist leader, was allowed to visit the White House complex while at the same time the subject of an FBI investigation. Al-Arian has since been indicted on 50 counts of conspiring to finance terrorist attacks and as serving as a leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.
- Letter to President Bush

Wednesday, January 29, 2003
Lobbyists Host Reception for Top Administration Telecommunications Official
Rep. Waxman asks the Commerce Department's Inspector General to investigate a private reception paid for by wireless industry lobbyists in honor of Assistant Secretary of Commerce Nancy Victory, the Administration's top official on telecommunications issues. Soon after the reception, Ms. Victory wrote to the FCC to urge the adoption of a position advocated by the wireless industry.
- Letter to Commerce Department IG

Friday, January 10, 2003
Concern Over Justice Department Takeover of Insurance Company
Rep. Waxman and other members have expressed concern about the Justice Department's failure to prosecute the French bank Credit Lyonnais for its fraudulent takeover of Executive Life Insurance Company in 1991.
- Letter from Rep. Waxman and Ose to AG Ashcroft
- Letter from Rep. Waxman to AG Ashcroft
- Letter from Reps. Waxman, Ose, and Lewis to AG Thompson
- Rep. Waxman's Letter to Chairman Burton
- Rep. Waxman's Statement

Friday, July 12, 2002
Rep. Waxman Calls on Bush to Set an Example on Stock Earnings
In a letter to President Bush, Rep. Waxman calls on the President to consider donating to charity all or some of the profits from his sale of $848,560 worth of Harken Energy Company stock.
- Letter to President Bush

Monday, June 24, 2002
HHS Actions Contradict Expert Recommendations
Rep. Waxman and Rep. Elijah Cummings, ranking Democrat of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee, along with leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus, write to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson to protest HHS actions that contradict the Institute of Medicine's expert recommendations on how to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.
- Letter to HHS
- The Report
- More on Health Care Disparities

Friday, June 14, 2002
Rep. Waxman Asks If Committee Will Investigate White House Officials Rove and Mehlman
In a letter to Chairman Burton, Rep. Waxman asks if the Committee will be investigating the apparent use of government time and resources by Karl Rove and Ken Mehlman, two senior White House officials, to develop a partisan analysis of Republican prospects in key House and Senate races.
- Letter to Chairman Burton

Thursday, June 06, 2002
Permanent Estate Tax Repeal Would Enrich Wealthy and Worsen Deficit
The effort to make permanent the repeal of the estate tax would enrich a small group of wealthy Americans, while worsening the existing federal budget deficit. Among the beneficiaries of a permanent repeal are members of President Bush's cabinet, former officers of Enron, and key executives of other troubled companies. This small group of wealthy individuals would receive over $1 billion in potential tax savings.
- Fact Sheet
- Rep. Waxman's Statement

Friday, May 31, 2002
Bush Administration Contacts with Enron
Rep. Waxman released a report which identifies 112 contacts between Administration officials and Enron in 200, based on documents and other information disclosed by the Administration, press stories, and Enron’s 2001 lobbying disclosure reports.
- Report on Administration Contacts with Enron

Wednesday, April 24, 2002
Rep. Waxman Gives Statement on H.R. 4187, The Presidential Records Act
In a hearing on The Presidential Records Act, Rep. Waxman stated, "The Bush executive order, which changes the management of the Presidential Records Act, is seriously flawed. The order takes a law that was designed to make documents readily available to the public and establishes procedures that are designed to block access."
- Rep. Waxman's Statement

Thursday, April 11, 2002
Historians on the Importance of Access to Presidential Records
In a full Committee oversight hearing on the Presidential Records Act, four prominent historians criticized efforts by the Bush Administration to restrict access to presidential records. According to Dr. Stanley Kutler, "If his action stands, Bush will substantially shut down historical research of recent presidents."
- Rep. Waxman's Statement
- Testimony: Joan Hoff
- Testimony: Richard Reeves
- Testimony: Robert Dallek
- Testimony: Stanley Kutler
- Witness List

Wednesday, December 05, 2001
OMB Requests 'Confidential' List of Regulations Disliked by Lobbyists
Reps. Waxman and John Tierney send a letter to the Office of Management and Budget asking for the disclosure of a list, compiled at OMB's request by the Republican Subcommittee staff of the Government Reform Committee, that details regulations considered burdensome by lobbyists. Reps. Waxman and Tierney send a letter to Governor Tom Ridge on the regulations on this list that appear to be relevant to efforts to address terrorism.
- Letter to Governor Ridge
- Letter to OMB

Monday, December 03, 2001
Bush Refuses to Turn Over Records
Rep. Waxman criticized the Bush Administration for invoking executive privilege and withholding important documents from Congress.
- Rep. Waxman's Statement

Wednesday, November 28, 2001
Bill to Open Secret Social Security Commission Meetings
Reps. Waxman and Matsui introduce legislation that will require the President's Commission on Social Security to keep their meetings open to the public.
- Bill Text: H.R. 3371
- Press Release

Tuesday, November 06, 2001
Administration Limits Release of Presidential Records
Reps. Waxman and Schakowsky send a letter to President Bush calling on him to rescind his Executive Order that greatly restricts public access to Presidential records.
- Letter to President Bush
- Press Release
- Summary of Executive Order

Friday, August 10, 2001
Fundraising and Potential Conflicts of Interest
Rep. Waxman has corresponded with White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales, Chairman Burton, and Karl Rove on fundraising and potential conflicts of interest.
- Letter from Alberto Gonzales: Refusing to provide additional information about Karl Rove's activities
- Letter to Alberto Gonzales: Requesting that Karl Rove's case be referred to the Justice Department
- Letter from Alberto Gonzales: Responding to Rep. Waxman's letters of June 15 and June 25, 2001
- Letter to Alberto Gonzales: Requesting copies of any conflict of interest waivers granted to Karl Rove
- Letter to Chairman Burton: Responding to the Chairman's letter regarding Karl Rove
- Letter to Chairman Burton: Regarding Karl Rove's involvement in a merger supported by Intel
- Letter to Karl Rove: Regarding his involvement in policy matters that potentially affect his stock holdings
- Letter to Chairman Burton: Regarding a Republican fundraising event at the Vice President's residence
- Letter to Chairman Burton: Regarding the use of Administration resources to assist Republican campaigns

Thursday, July 19, 2001
Defense Department Advisory Committees
Eight members write Defense Secretary Rumsfeld about closed advisory committees at the Defense Department.
- Letter to Secretary Rumsfeld

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Please let Rep. Waxman have a guardian angel watching over him..

[paineinthearse]

2. I've given this some thought, our priorities are backwards.

What I mean is we always seem to be in a "in the moment" mode, looking for the next scandal. Perhaps it is time to be more reflective and revisit some of the old scandals.

As in non-government jobs, surely former insiders have left their * administration positions and are no longer under Rove's thumb. Contact them for their thoughts on this crapola.

Take some time to familiarize yourselves with this shopping list, find one of particular interest and do some digging.

[KharmaTrain]

3. When Will We Do Something?

Democrats are spinning their wheels on Capitol Hill with the DeLay and Frist mafias. Rep. Waxman has long stood for the right causes and languishes with all this hard work and a precious few ever see it, yet is anything ever done to assist the Representative in this endless task.

I'll promote it again...Democrats need a legal arm...almost a parallel government, that uses the courts and the people to bypass this fascists in the House who are the worst abusers of our tax money, biggest violators of our civil rights and enablers of this regime.

While I wish Democrats could win enough local elections to take control of the House, until that day happens, we have to find ways to stand up for our rights and to take down these crooks before they do much more damage to the country.

What we can't do in a House that stiffles dissent and covers-up corruption...we need to do in civil courts and in other forums where we have the resources and legal rights and powers to get to the truth. Without some teeth, this regime will get more arrogant and corrupt.

[paineinthearse]

4. Amen, brother! nt

[paineinthearse]

5. God bless John Conyers, but.....

For your research and historical purposes, in a similar vain, here are the letters from the House Judiciary Committee (Democrats') website. Wonderful for academics and hopefully a Congressional investigation within our lifetimes. Or perhaps a civil challenge.

God bless, John Conyers, he is trying, but where are the results?

http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/correspondence...

February, 2005
Text of Letter from Reps.Conyers and Waxman to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Requesting the Recusal of Top Aids in CIA Leak Investigation (2/8/05)
Text of Letter from Several Members to Daniel Mullhollan, Director, Congressional Research Service Requesting a 50 State Survey of Voting Irregularities (2/1/05)
Text of Letter from Several Members to Gracia Hillman, Chair, U.S. Election Assistance Commission Requesting Study of Electronic Voting Systems (2/1/05)

January, 2005
Text of Letter from Rep. Conyers to Chris Swecker, FBI Criminal Investigative Division, Concerning Ohio Election Fraud (1/28/05)
Text of Letter from Rep. Conyers to Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro Concerning Sanctions Against Attorneys in the Ohio Presidential Election Challenge (1/20/05)
Text of Letter from Rep. Conyers to Warren Mitofsky of Mitofsky International and Larry Rosin of Edison Media Research Reiterating Request for the Raw Exit Poll Data (1/20/05)
Text of Letter from Several Judiciary Democratic Members to Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner Requesting Committee Hearings and Investigate Issue of Protecting Our Citizens Right to Vote (1/19/05)
Text of Letter from Reps. Conyers, Nadler, Scott and Jackson Lee to DOJ AG Ashcroft Requesting Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Ohio Voting Irregularities (1/14/05)
DOJ Response (2/3/05)
Text of Letter from Rep. Conyers Requesting Ohio Secretary of State Blackwell's Comments on House Judiciary Democratic Staff Report on Ohio Voting Irregularities (1/13/05)
Text of Letter from Reps. Conyers and Waxman to GAO Comptroller Walker Requesting an Investigation into Long Lines at Polling Places (1/12/05)
GAO Response (1/26/05)
Text of Letter from Several Reps. to the House and Senate Leadership Concerning a Challenge to the Presidential Electors from Ohio (1/5/05)