Tuesday
Sep082009
Financial Analyst Warns Czars Are Costly, Undemocratic
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 5:47PM
In light of Anthony "Van" Jones’s resignation over the weekend, many are questioning why President Barack Obama has appointed so many czars to serve in his administration.
Bob Rinear, founder and publisher of InvestYourself.com and the Financial Intelligence Report, says the United States should pay attention to its administrative spending.
"When you look at the U.S. budget, obviously anyone that's been paying even a little bit of attention knows that we're in quite a mess... running trillion dollar deficits for as long as the eye can see," Rinear says.
He says that while it seems newly-created cabinets and commissions aren't a big deal, they can end up becoming a big chunk of the budget.
"Every time they...start something like this, it grows, and grows, and grows and pretty soon, it makes up an awful lot of the daily budget," Rinear says. "So we do need to keep an eye on this, as far as how much of these czars do cause federal deficits anyway."
"Just because you're a President doesn't mean that you're the smartest person on Earth," Rinear says. "You need input, and you need advice, and you need questions and answers from other intelligent people."
"Czars" are special advisers to the President and can be commissioned for any department. Much of the controversy surrounding Presidential appointees, or czars, is that they do not require Senate confirmation and are not subjected to Congressional oversight.
Rinear says czars, though not elected by the public, can play an influential role from a policy-shaping standpoint. The problem with this, he says, is that taxpayers fund their salaries, but don't know much about them.
"Let's just go to Van Jones, for a minute," Rinear says. "He was the special advisor on green jobs. So he was going to be very, very influential on shaping the greening of America. And yet, when we found out some of the things that he said and stood for in the past, enough people didn't like it, that he had to get shook out."
Jones, the former special advisor for green jobs in the White House Council for Environmental Quality, resigned under pressure late Saturday because of controversial statements about Republicans, and what critics are calling extremist views.
Under the Obama administration, an estimated 32 czars have been appointed and with Jones gone, 31 special advisors now remain.
The Obama administration hasn't named a replacement for "Van" Jones.
Bob Rinear, founder and publisher of InvestYourself.com and the Financial Intelligence Report, says the United States should pay attention to its administrative spending.
"When you look at the U.S. budget, obviously anyone that's been paying even a little bit of attention knows that we're in quite a mess... running trillion dollar deficits for as long as the eye can see," Rinear says.
He says that while it seems newly-created cabinets and commissions aren't a big deal, they can end up becoming a big chunk of the budget.
"Every time they...start something like this, it grows, and grows, and grows and pretty soon, it makes up an awful lot of the daily budget," Rinear says. "So we do need to keep an eye on this, as far as how much of these czars do cause federal deficits anyway."
"Just because you're a President doesn't mean that you're the smartest person on Earth," Rinear says. "You need input, and you need advice, and you need questions and answers from other intelligent people."
"Czars" are special advisers to the President and can be commissioned for any department. Much of the controversy surrounding Presidential appointees, or czars, is that they do not require Senate confirmation and are not subjected to Congressional oversight.
Rinear says czars, though not elected by the public, can play an influential role from a policy-shaping standpoint. The problem with this, he says, is that taxpayers fund their salaries, but don't know much about them.
"Let's just go to Van Jones, for a minute," Rinear says. "He was the special advisor on green jobs. So he was going to be very, very influential on shaping the greening of America. And yet, when we found out some of the things that he said and stood for in the past, enough people didn't like it, that he had to get shook out."
Jones, the former special advisor for green jobs in the White House Council for Environmental Quality, resigned under pressure late Saturday because of controversial statements about Republicans, and what critics are calling extremist views.
Under the Obama administration, an estimated 32 czars have been appointed and with Jones gone, 31 special advisors now remain.
The Obama administration hasn't named a replacement for "Van" Jones.
Czar Debate Enters Baucus Bill Markup
Friday morning brought the fourth day of the Senate Finance committee’s markup of the America’s Healthy Future Act. A large portion of Friday’s talks consisted of concerns over health care czars, keeping transparency within the bill and blocking age discrimination for premiums.
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) proposed an amendment evoking the advise and consent clause, stating that any czar associated with health care should face a Senate confirmation process similar to those required for cabinet secretaries.
Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) was once again quick to deny the Republican amendments.
“The job title czar does not exist,” he countered. “Having a czar confirmed by the Senate and the chance to testify would be a waste of time."
The amendment ultimately failed with 10-13 vote.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) offered a bill that would stop age discrimination, but after more than an hour of debate on whether the amendment was germane, Kerry ultimately withdrew his amendment upon the request of Chairman Baucus.
Friday’s session recessed at noon. It will return Tuesday, September 29 at 9:30