House speaker 'chagrined' at Bush backing of 9/11 panel extension

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., Tuesday discussed his decision late last week to drop his opposition in allowing the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks an additional two months to finish its work.

"I was concerned that the commission get its work done on a timely basis," Hastert said. "A lot of people want answers."

Hastert said he was perturbed the Bush administration threw its weight behind the extension.

"I'm a little bit chagrinned by the White House," Hastert said. "I don't know what deals they cut."

Hastert said he wanted Congress to have enough time to react legislatively to the commission's conclusions and said he did not want to see the report get bogged down in election-year politics.

On Friday Hastert dropped his opposition to a request by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks to extend its deadline.

Instead of a May 27 deadline, the panel will have until July 26 to issue its final report.

Hastert appeared with former Republican Gov. Thomas Kean of New Jersey, the commission chairman, and former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., the vice chairman, along with former GOP Gov. James Thompson of Illinois, who is also a commission member.