On the recordFebruary 17, 2011
I think that this amendment is typical of many of the proposals from the other side of the aisle that paint with a broad brush the entire Federal Government. This is a complex world. A President needs an ability to govern. The President relies on many of these executive positions to effectively govern this country. It is not a Democratic or Republican thing. It is about having an effective executive and effective administrative branch. That doesn't mean that there is not common ground; and while I certainly oppose this amendment, I would love to work with the gentleman and others to look at these positions one by one. We have discussed a proposal to eliminate the drug czar, for instance. The drug czar's office spends $21 million a year, and yet drug use has gone up since its inception, illegal drug use. There are ways that we can work together, but a blatant removal of the ability of a President to effectively govern the country is not a wise measure, and one that I rise in opposition to. I encourage a more thoughtful discussion that could in fact lead to the elimination of some of these so-called czar positions.
