Task force investigating Rove may close due to lack of funding

[Holly_Hobby]

Budget Shortfall May Shutter White House Probe

September 17, 2007 12:21 PM

Justin Rood Reports:

A task force probing allegations of illegal activity by Karl Rove and other former and current White House officials is in jeopardy due to lack of funding, according to its spokesman.

Without a last-minute infusion of nearly $3 million, the special task force may be unable to pay its staff and buy the kind of technical assistance it needs to investigate allegations that White House political operatives may have improperly injected politics into government activities, according to Jim Mitchell, spokesman for the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

In April, Special Counsel Scott Bloch announced that a new, six-member task force from his office would probe the use of private e-mail accounts by White House aides, the firing of at least one U.S. attorney by administration appointees and presentations of political data by White House aides to other officials in government.

The cost of the task force for 2008 would be $2.89 million, according to OSC estimates. But Bloch started the probe long after he submitted his 2008 budget request. And now he's having a hard time convincing those holding the nation's purse strings to loosen up and give him some last-minute extra funding.

...

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/09/budget-shortfal.html

This is outrageous!

[fedupfisherman]

1. Not surprised

Need to raise heck about this!

[rodeodance]

2. a bunch of bloggers could do it for a heck of lot less and in record time-!!

[Holly_Hobby]

4. Ain't it the truth. n/t

[Olney Blue]

3. So Rove is just going to waltz out of D.C. without accountability.

:mad:

[Holly_Hobby]

6. I don't know why I continue to be surprised. n/t

[judaspriestess]

5. how convenient

n/t

[razors edge]

7. Billions for war,

nothing for justice, makes sense. :sarcasm:

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. Oh, please - just get 1 or 2 reps to give up an "earmark".

2.89 million to them is like the change in our couch to us.

[Lugnut]

9. WTF?

We can waste billions in Iraq but can't fund a vital criminal investigation. :crazy:

[annm4peace]

10. I'll call my Rep Keith Ellison, what will you do ?

[Booster]

11. This is just ridiculous. If people in Wash DC didn't move so damn

slowly maybe they could get this done for a lot less that 2.89 million. They're really good at probing, but not so good at coming up with conclusions.

[Solly Mack]

12. what a crock of shit

"The House of Representatives has already approved a budget for OSC that does not include any extra money for the task force. In an accompanying report, it directed OSC to work with the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request the spending"

On the Senate side, the panel reviewing OSC's budget is aware of the problem but doesn't look eager to jump in. Documents obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com imply the Senate too will decline to add extra funds for the task force. In a draft report, that panel too will point the investigators to ask the White House to support its request.

If congressional Democrats are reluctant to back Bloch, it may be because of concerns about his appropriateness. Bloch, whose office investigates whistle-blower retaliation complaints and discrimination disputes as well as allegations of inappropriate political activity by government employees, has twice been accused by watchdog groups and former employees of letting politics determine investigative decisions.

Bloch is also reportedly under investigation by a White House-run panel, the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE), over allegations he retaliated and discriminated against his own employees. Bloch has denied the charges."

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. This is intentional interference.

It's an old political ploy to dry up any program that you don't support.

[Holly_Hobby]

14. Kick

.