Dent: We Have Too Many Czars

Is Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent a Commie after all? He wants to get rid of all the czars. Hey, let's face it. We've got a lot of them. Car czar. Green jobs czar. TARP czar. Stimulus Accountability czar. Health czar. Drug czar.

And so on.

At the rate we're going, we'll soon need a czar czar, to make sure all the little czars are doing their job.

Charlie Dent says enough already. He has signed onto legislation to revoke funding for the Administration’s “czars.” This legislation, H.R. 3226 - the Czar Accountability and Reform (CZAR) Act, was introduced by Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA).

The problem with all these czars running all over the place is they are exercising significant authority without having their appointments confirmed by the Senate, as required by the Appointments Clause. pursuant to the laws of the United States be appointed in the manner prescribed by the Appointments Clause (Article II, Section 2).

“Although their actual job descriptions suggest they are subordinate to Cabinet members, this is merely window-dressing,” Congressman Dent said. “The term ‘czar’ implies absolute power, something that should already raise warning flags in a nation built on the principle of separation of powers. In town halls in my district throughout August, I heard from countless constituents who are alarmed by the number of ‘czars’ in the Administration and the broad powers they are exercising.

“There are times and issues where it is necessary for departments and agencies to coordinate across their jurisdictional boundaries. I understand the need for an officer who will oversee those efforts. But these individuals must be accountable and their actions must be transparent. This legislation will restore the checks and balances that are crucial to our representative democracy.”

Ironically, the media first used the term "czar" to unflatteringly describe certain Presidential advisors during the Franklin Roosevelt Administration. However, no recent administration has had more than three or four such officials – and those officials, such as the “drug czar,” were visible and accountable. A lack of oversight distinguishes the “czars” in the Obama Administration.

“I believe the President has every right to name advisors and Cabinet officials he wants, provided they have no significant legal issues or other problematic history,” Congressman Dent said. “But he has an obligation to get Senate approval for individuals who wield significant authority to shape policy for the American people.”