Politicking alleged at GSA

WASHINGTON, March 26 (UPI) -- Allegations have arisen in Washington that the chief of the General Services Administration discussed ways to help Republican candidates.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is to begin taking testimony Wednesday from GSA Administrator Lurita Doan about an agency teleconference she conducted in January. One presentation was done by Scott Jennings, the White House's deputy director of political affairs, who allegedly concluded by asking as many as 40 regional directors "how they could "help 'our candidates' in the next elections," The Washington Post reported.

If that is proven to be true it would contravene the Hatch Act, which restricts executive branch employees from using their positions for political purposes.

On March 6, the chairman of the oversight committee, U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., requested Doan to appear at this week's meeting, the Post said. Waxman said in the letter the remarks have been confirmed by "multiple sources."