GAO powers would increase under bill moved by House
Legislation would give the watchdog agency authority to pursue civil action against federal agencies and to interview federal employees under oath.
The House approved legislation Tuesday expanding the Government Accountability Office's power to scrutinize executive branch agencies.
The measure, passed by voice vote, gives GAO the right to pursue civil action against federal agencies to obtain information.
That provision is the result of a ruling on former Comptroller General David Walker's effort to obtain records from an energy task force headed by Vice President Dick Cheney. A U.S. district court said GAO did not have the right to sue for them.
Introduced by House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and co-sponsored by all House committee chairmen, the bill also gives GAO authority to interview federal employees under oath and creates a mechanism for GAO to report to Congress on refusals by agencies to turn over information.