Congressman Burton recently signed onto legislation that would call for accountability and eliminate funding for the position of "Czar" within the administration. The position or Czar has become one of creating senior-level policy while at the same time, according to the "Dear Colleague" letter "skirting the Senate's Constitutional role of advice and consent."

Below you will find a copy of the "Dear Colleague" letter that outlines the three main issues of why this legislation exists.

Co-Sponsor the Czar Accountability and Reform Act of 2009 today!

Dear Colleague,

The CZAR Act eliminates funding for "czars" who hold senior policy-making positions while skirting the Senate's Constitutional role of advice and consent.

Issue #1: Violates Constitutional Principles

* Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution commands that principal officers (government officers with significant authority) be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Principal Officers include not only cabinet-level department heads but extend five levels to include assistant secretaries and deputy undersecretaries.

* Czars, unlike Presidential advisors, are high level decision makers who dictate far-reaching national policies that affect millions of Americans.

* Czars defy the principles and intentions of our Founding Fathers to prevent centralized power in one individual. These appointments violate the constitutional systems of checks and balances and separation of powers, and evade congressional oversight.

Issue #2: Lack of Transparency

* This Administration "is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government" but does not divulge information about its flock of czars.

"Starting today, every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information, but those who seek to make it known. ... Let me say it as simply as I can. Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency." - President Obama (1/21/2009)

* Despite such rhetoric, there is little information available on many of President Obama's czars:

o What qualifications do they have?

o How much is their salary?

o To what department do they officially belong?

o What are power do they hold?

o To whom do they report?

Issue #3: No Accountability

* President Obama promised accountability but to whom are these czars accountable?

* Czars function with impunity and operate "under the radar." They are accountable to no one - except the President - yet control policy affecting millions.

To cosponsor the CZAR Act, email allison.thigpen@mail.house.gov or call
5-5831

Sincerely,

Jack Kingston
Member of Congress