by Lorri Anderson
According to news reports President Obama signed the “
The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011”
Politico.com reports,
“Democrats and Republicans came together to give
President Obama more power to appoint officials jobs in his
administration without seeking approval from the Senate.”
This bill will go into effect anywhere from 0-60 days from the date
of President Obama signing it. The Senate approved the bill, 79-20, in
June 2011. The House approved it, 261-116, last month.
“In the middle of election season, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have come together to give President Barack Obama more power to appoint officials to jobs in his administration without seeking approval from the Senate.”
Yes, you read correctly: more power. The article went on to point out just why this didn’t break across mainstream media:
Lost in the hubbub last weekend over Rep. Paul Ryan’s
selection as Mitt Romney’s running mate was the fact that Obama signed a
bill that eliminates the need to obtain Senate confirmation for about
170 executive branch posts: the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and
Streamlining Act of 2011.
Senator Lieberman,
the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and
Government Affairs, which marked up and reported out the measure, said:
“This bipartisan legislation represents the Senate at its best. A
problem was identified, and Democrats and Republicans worked together to
craft a solution. Now, future Administrations will be able to get their
teams in place more quickly, and the Senate will be able focus its time
and energy on the most important Executive Branch appointments. In no
way does this bill erode the Senate’s role of “advice and consent.”
Rather, it strengthens the Senate’s power by freeing us up to
concentrate on nominees who will actually shape national policy.”
This is very concerning, this gives Obama the legal right to hire who
he wants without approval from the senate for the following positions.
A list of positions exempted from Senate confirmation appears below. This list is provided via
Senator Joe Lieberman.
Department of Agriculture
Assistant Secretary for Administration
Rural Utilities Service Administrator
Directors (7), Commodity Credit Corporation
Department of Commerce
Chief Scientist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Officer Corps, NOAA (321)
Corporation for National and Community Service Managing Directors (2)
Department of Defense
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Networks and Information Integration)
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
Director of the Selective Service System
Members (6), National Security Education Board
Council of Economic Advisers
Members (2)
Department of Education
Assistant Secretary for Management
Commissioner – Education Statistics
Members (15), National Board of Education Sciences
Department of Health and Human Services
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Public Health Services Corps (2536)
Department of Homeland Security
Assistant Administrator, Grants, FEMA
Administrator, U.S. Fire Administration
Director, Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement
Chief Medical Officer
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
US Agency for International Development
Assistant Administrator for Management
Department of Justice
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics
Director, Bureau of Justice Assistance
Director, National Institute of Justice
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Director, Office for Victims of Crime
Department of Labor
Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
Director, Women’s Bureau
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Deputy Director
Deputy Director, Demand Reduction
Deputy Director, State and Local Affairs
Deputy Director, Supply Reduction
Department of State
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Administration
Department of Transportation
Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs
Deputy Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration
Administrator, St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Department of Treasury
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Management
Treasurer of the United States Administrator,
Community Development Financial Institution Fund
Department of Veterans Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Management
Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration
Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security and Preparedness
Appalachian Regional Commission
Alternate Federal Co-Chairman
African Development Bank
Governor Alternate Governor
African Development Fund
Governor Alternate Governor
Asian Development Bank
Governor
Alternate Governor
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
Members (13), Board of Trustees
Mississippi River Commission
Commissioners (7)
National Council on Disability
Members (15)
National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board
Members (10)
National Museum and Library Services Board
Members (20)
National Science Board
Members (24)
More freedom for Obama, less accountability, and the ability to control.
Note: Homeland Security, DOD, and FEMA are on this list. Scarey
thought indeed. I wonder if the same people who did President Obama’s
background check will be doing theirs also?
