Did White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel coordinate a political multi-agency response to conservative criticisms of the stimulus? The Washington Examiner’s David Freddoso makes the case:
Specifically, the question is whether [Emanuel] put four cabinet secretaries up to writing bullying letters to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, R. The letters asked whether Arizona wanted its stimulus funds cut off, shortly after Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., suggested repealing the stimulus package.
[House Government Reform Committww Ranking Member Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)] cannot issue a subpoena without support from Democrats, and so Emanuel is not yet legally required to respond to his inquiries. However, it is worth noting that if this Politico story on Emanuel’s involvement — which Issa references — is true, then Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood lied to Congress two weeks ago, during testimony before the House Budget Committee, about the letter he sent.
LaHood had to be asked seven times in a July 24 budget hearing whether anyone in the White House had put him up to writing his letter to Brewer. After several evasions by LaHood, Rep. Scott Garrett, R-N.J., finally complained to the chairman: “Mr. Chairman, would the witness please answer the question?”
LaHood finally answered “no.”
Tags: Agency Response, Ariz, Arizona Gov, Budget Committee, Cabinet Secretaries, Darrell Issa, David Freddoso, Government Reform, Jon Kyl, Mr Chairman, Rahm Emanuel, Ray Lahood, S David, Scott Garrett, Sen Jon Kyl, Seven Times, Stimulus Package, Transportation Secretary, Washington Examiner, White House Chief Of Staff