Temp Appointments Blasted

DAILY BRIEFING

Temp Appointments Blasted

The executive and legislative branches of the federal government are "in flagrant violation" of the Vacancies Act, which limits temporary appointments to 120 days, Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn. said Wednesday at a hearing of his Governmental Affairs Committee.

In the Clinton administration, 64 of 320 positions requiring Senate approval are currently filled temporarily, and 43 officials have served longer than 120 days, Thompson said.

"What we have here is an entire government that could be filled with temporary appointments which could last for an entire administration," Thompson said. "This has become a very important constitutional matter with a number of consequences."

Thompson and other Senators complained at the hearing that violations of the Vacancies Act circumvent the Senate's constitutional duty to review nominees for positions. The issue was brought to light due to the recent confirmation battle over Bill Lann Lee, acting assistant attorney general for civil rights.

"There's an end run being made around the supreme law of the land," said Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va. Byrd is sponsoring a bill (S.1761) that would apply the Vacancies Act to all departments and create a system of enforcement to encourage compliance.

"The current situation cries out for oversight, and it now demands action," Thompson said.