Lawmaker calls for investigation over quizzing of HHS appointees

National Journal
October 27, 2004
Comments

SHARE

RELATED

A member of the House Science Committee on Tuesday called on the Justice Department to investigate whether White House officials broke the law by quizzing Health and Human Service Department scientific advisory appointees about their political affiliations and voting records.

Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., said the White House then excluded advisers if their opinions were not in line with the Bush administration.

Because the Government Accountability Office determined that such practices are illegal, Baird penned a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft criticizing the White House and the Office of Government Ethics for deeming several GAO ethics recommendations as unnecessary.

"You have the opportunity, and responsibility, to ensure HHS is complying with existing law," Baird wrote. "I encourage you to exercise this authority to determine whether the administration is violating the law in its Federal Advisory Committee member appointment process."

MOST COMMENTED

MORE COMMENTS SITE WIDE

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although GovExec.com does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.

HIGHLIGHT