It only took four years of George W. Bush, innumerable failed policies and abuses of power, electoral pummelings in 2002 and 2004 and no end in sight of Republican dominance in Washington to get Democrats on the Hill riled up enough to get some investigations going. (Sorry, feeling a little cynical this morning.) From the AP:
"New Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said Monday his party will launch investigative hearings next year in response to what he said was the reluctance of Republicans to look into problems in the Bush administration. 'There are too many unasked and unanswered questions and the American public deserves better,' the Nevada senator said at a news conference."
"Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., who heads the Democratic Policy Committee, said the first hearing will be at the end of January and he suggested it might focus on contract abuse in Iraq. He said the policy committee, which has held occasional investigative hearings in the past, planned to convene at least one such hearing a month. Dorgan said that with Republicans controlling the White House and both the House and Senate, 'the congressional watchdog remains fast asleep in this Congress.'"
The minority party has no subpoena power, but Dems can invite whistleblower types to tell their tales. Guess you have to start somewhere.
Shares