Obama Administration Sets Legal Framework To Foil Investigator General

March 1, 2009

From AOL News:
A little publicized provision in the recently passed $787 billion stimulus bill would give the Obama Administration the power to thwart independent inspectors general’s investigations into how stimulus monies are being spent. The White House reportedly insisted that the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, an oversight panel to be headed by a presidential appointee, have the power to request an investigation as well as request a halt to an ongoing investigation.The provision has caused even some of the Administration’s own inspectors general to question the Obama Administration’s intent in reserving the right to call off their investigations. Russell George, Inspector General in the Treasury Department, said that his office would be looking closely at how the provision is implemented.

< div>“We want to ensure that the independence of IGs is not encroached upon in any way, and that’s why concerns have been raised about this legislation. It’s still very early in the process, but we are going to look very closely to see how the legislation is going to be interpreted.”

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) called the provision troubling. “This is a dangerous provision that will hamper oversight, restrict transparency, and damage the independence of inspectors general,” he said. But, the Administration denied the provision was intended to prevent any investigations. “There is nothing in this legislation meant to limit any inspector general,” White House spokesman Thomas E. Gavin said.

The stimulus bill allows inspectors general to refuse the board’s request to shelve an investigation. But they would have to file a report justifying the decision to the board within 30 days of the board’s request. That would effectively stall the investigation while the report is prepared, as well as take valuable resources away from the investigation. Furthermore, a request from the White House could intimidate some inspectors general into complying or deciding not to initiate investigations that are likely to draw White House scrutiny. President Obama promised the nation that his Administration would make sure that not one dollar of the record-large stimulus bill would be wasted. In insisting that it have the right to essentially dictate when investigations can20take place, however, the Administration has signaled that it may not be as interested in transparency as it is in control.