Byrd warns Obama: Keep 'czars' in check

[February 25, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The longest-serving senator in history is warning President Barack Obama to curb the power of his newly created White House agency heads because they tend to accumulate too much power with too little accountability.

The so-called czars of the new offices of health, urban affairs and climate change are not subject to Senate confirmation, West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd points out in a letter to Obama.

As presidential assistants and advisers, Byrd says, these White House officials are not accountable to Congress, Cabinet members or anyone but the president.

Byrd urged Obama to prohibit these officials from eluding investigations by asserting executive privilege. Obama did not immediately respond to the letter.

[Associated Press]

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