Politics

Speaker Pelosi Letter to House Chairs Urging Oversight Hearings on Fiscal Responsibility

By Karina

Speaker Pelosi sent the following letter today to House Committee Chairs, asking them to schedule oversight hearings to examine the budgets of federal agencies under their jurisdiction saying, “as our nation continues to confront severe budget deficits as a result of unsound economic policy and lax regulation over the last eight years, it is essential that, as we advance our priorities, House Committees also conduct rigorous oversight of all aspects of federal spending and government operations to help achieve deficit reduction and long-term fiscal responsibility.”

The letter:

February 19, 2009

Dear Chairman:

As our nation continues to confront severe budget deficits as a result of unsound economic policy and lax regulation over the last eight years, it is essential that, as we advance our priorities, House Committees also conduct rigorous oversight of all aspects of federal spending and government operations to help achieve deficit reduction and long term fiscal responsibility.

As discussed in the chairmen?s meeting and in the Caucus earlier this month, I am asking each chairman to schedule committee hearings to examine the budgets of programs in the departments or agencies under their jurisdiction.

This effort builds on the House Rules change proposed by Congressman John Tanner and adopted last month by the House of Representatives and is consistent with President Obama?s call for long-term fiscal discipline.

I appreciate the hard work you, your committee members, and your staff will devote to this effort to scrutinize our budget, promote efficiency, and reduce waste in government spending. I request that you prepare a schedule for these committee hearings in concert with your regular hearing schedule so this thorough review can begin without delay.

Thank you for your commitment to improving the efficiency of our government by providing accountability to taxpayers and restoring long term fiscal soundness.

I look forward to hearing from you on the schedule for your committee no later than March 13, 2009.
best wishes,

NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House

Full post as published by The Gavel on February 19, 2009 (boomark / email).