House GOP Gives Staff Broader New Powers to Grill Witnesses
https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-01-04/house-gop-gives-staff-broader-new-powers-to-grill-witnesses
A little-noticed provision approved Tuesday by the U.S. House dramatically expands the powers of committee staff to haul private citizens and government officials to Capitol Hill to be questioned under oath -- without any lawmakers present, in some cases.
The Republican-authored change included in a House rules package marks what Democrats says is a disturbing trend of giving staff powers that have traditionally been reserved for members of Congress.
After spending six years demonstrating their eagerness to spend taxpayer money on wasteful, politically motivated witch hunts, Republicans are giving themselves additional tools to do more of the same," said Representative Louise Slaughter of New York, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee.
"Freely handing out the power to compel any American to appear, sit in a room, and answer staffs invasive questions on the record -- without members even being required to be present -- is truly unprecedented, unwarranted, and offensive," she said.
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Also discussed at:
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/4/1617016/-Big-Brother-alert-GOP-grants-Hill-staffers-authority-to-question-private-citizens-under-oath