WASHINGTON, SEPT. 4, 2009 – “I would like to share my concern and the concerns of some of my constituents about the unprecedented number of policy czars employed by the White House,” wrote Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) in a letter addressed the President Obama. “By my count, there were at least 32 active czars. This large number of current czars is troublesome, especially since the czars have been granted a lot of authority in numerous policy areas. Yet, each czar is not accountable to congressional oversight but tasked with leading major policy efforts for the administration.”
The letter from Stearns included the following four questions:
How many policy czars have you appointed?
How does the number of czars in your administration compare with previous administrations?
Where do funds come from to pay for them?
What oversight measures exist to ensure transparency and accountability?
Stearns requested a written response by October 3, 2009.
