Virus Aid Watchdog Will Have Subpoena Clout, Member Says
Washington,
April 21, 2020
Virus Aid Watchdog Will Have Subpoena Clout, Member Says
Bloomberg 04/21/2020 The congressional watchdog overseeing a half-trillion dollars in virus-related spending can rely on the subpoena powers of other parts of Congress if it needs to fight for documents from the Trump administration to conduct its work, according to a Republican member of the commission. Representative French Hill of Arkansas said the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief act clearly directs the executive branch to provide details needed for oversight, although the five-member congressional commission by itself does not have subpoena authority. “The House Finance Services Committee and Senate Banking Committee are certainly available to coordinate with if we felt that was something that was warranted,” Hill said Tuesday in an interview. The job that Hill has agreed to take won’t be easy to carry out. President Donald Trump has shown hostility toward oversight, sidelining the inspector general named to monitor all pandemic spending, and clashing with Democrats over how much independence to grant the overseers. “The House Finance Services Committee and Senate Banking Committee are certainly available to coordinate with if we felt that was something that was warranted,” Hill said Tuesday in an interview. The job that Hill has agreed to take won’t be easy to carry out. President Donald Trump has shown hostility toward oversight, sidelining the inspector general named to monitor all pandemic spending, and clashing with Democrats over how much independence to grant the overseers. |
