Congress seeks to rein in policy czars

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The number and roles of U.S. President Barack Obama's policy czars has prompted congressional debate to place limits on the policy advisers, lawmakers said.

Both Democrats and Republicans, saying they aren't sure how many czars populate the Obama administration or if some of the special advisers really are czars, are trying to curb funding for any policy adviser not confirmed by the U.S. Senate, USA Today reported Wednesday.

"The question is: What do these guys do, and how much are they costing us?" says Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., a sponsor of a bill that would withhold such funds.

In the Senate, Democrats, such as West Virginia's Robert Byrd, have questioned the constitutionality of the positions that help coordinate policy and advise the president on issues from healthcare to drugs to the Middle East, the newspaper said. Republicans, such as Susan Collins of Maine, also are trying to curb funding for them.

"Little information is available concerning their responsibilities and authorities," Collins says. "There is no careful Senate examination of their character and qualifications. And we are speaking here of some of the most senior positions within our government."

Concerns about the policy czars ramped up recently when the political activism of Van Jones, who promoted Obama's green jobs initiatives, became public. Among other things, Jones signed a petition for a group alleging that the George W. Bush administration planned the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He resigned Sept. 5.