From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
(CNN) – The future Karl Roves of the world may be outlawed from working in the White House.
Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman, the chairman of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, suggested to a Capitol Hill newspaper that he is considering legislation that bans the use of federal money to fund a position similar to the one the longtime Bush aide held in the White House.
Rove, who orchestrated both of the president's successful electoral victories, headed the White House's Office of Political Affairs and the Office of Public Liaison during Bush's first term. Democrats have long accused Rove of using those offices — which include interacting with political committees and interest groups — to essentially run the president's 2004 reelection campaign.
“Why should we be using taxpayer dollars to have a person solely in charge of politics in the White House?” Waxman told The Hill. “Can you imagine the reaction if each member of Congress had a campaign person paid for with taxpayer dollars?”
Ethics rules in the Senate are considerably clearer when it comes to conducting political business: congressional aides are banned from using government phones, e-mail, and computers for any politically-related job.
Waxman's office confirmed the accuracy of the quotes, but would not comment further.
Filed under: Karl Rove
No comments:
Post a Comment