Congress, are you out there?

Congress? Are you going to take this?

"The executive branch is under no compulsion to testify to Congress, because Congress in fact doesn't have oversight ability." Tony Snow, March 22, 2007

I heard that, and you could have knocked me over with a feather.

I would refer Mr. Snow to Article. I. Section. 3. of the Constitution of the United States, which concludes:

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

And Article. I. Section. 3. of the Constitution of the United States:

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Please follow this link to an official Senate publication that explains Congressional oversight better than I can. Here is the summary:

Congressional oversight of policy implementation and administration, which has occurred throughout the U.S. government experience under the Constitution, takes a variety of forms and utilizes various techniques. These range from specialized investigations by select committees to annual appropriations hearings, and from informal communications between Members or congressional staff and executive personnel to the use of extra congressional mechanisms, such as offices of inspector general and study commissions. Oversight, moreover, is supported by a variety of authorities—the Constitution, public law, and chamber and committee rules—and is an integral part of the system of checks and balances between the legislature and the executive.

Would someone please explain to me just what the hell that is, if not oversight ability?

If congress doesn’t spike that right back over the net, we need a whole lot of new representation in two years. Both committees voted for subpoena power, and Republican Senator Charles Grassley specified he wanted to be on the record with his support of the authority.

Use as necessary. Contempt of Congress?

That qualifies.

[originally posted at Watching Those We Chose]