Posted on 07/25/2014 5:47:40 PM PDT by mandaladon
Top White House political adviser David Simas refused again Friday to honor a congressional subpoena, prompting Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to vote to rebuke the administration.
The Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted 19-14 to reject the White House’s claim that Simas has absolute immunity from a subpoena from Congress.
Republicans said they were standing up for the principle that no one is above the law, and Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa quoted a long list of Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who have backed Congress’ right to subpoena top administration officials.
Democrats, led by ranking member Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, said they strongly disagree with the White House’s claim of absolute immunity but also strongly disagree with Issa’s push to press the issue, warning it could hurt the institution if they take a case to court.
The White House informed Issa at 7:30 a.m. Friday that Simas would not appear, Issa said. The absence was “not excused,” the California Republican added.
White House Counsel W. Neil Eggleston asked Issa to withdraw the subpoena to discuss his late Thursday offer for Simas to give a deposition instead of subpoenaed testimony.
Issa refused to do so.
“We have an absolute right and obligation” to investigate the new White House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach, he said.
“This was intended to be a short, and I hope it will be, oversight of a relatively small but in the past controversial office, consistent with our requirement to do oversight even without a predicate of wrongdoing,” he said.
Issa said oversight of the previously troubled political office will help American people be more comfortable and ensure taxpayer dollars are being used properly.
(Excerpt) Read more at 3.blogs.rollcall.com ...
It’s become evident that the Constitution has a fatal flaw and this evil degenerate son of a whore is all over it.
There is no check on the power of the POTUS save impeachment, and if the votes aren’t there in the Senate, POTUS is in effect a dictator who can literally orchestrate an invasion by foreign nationals, and there isn’t a damn thing anyone can do about it.
The right will take power for maybe the last time in 2016.
This opportunity must not be wasted.
The American marxist movement must be destroyed using all means necessary.
That means putting in place the SOP to ensure the marxists NEVER control ANY branch of FEDGOV EVER AGAIN.
Time to do what needs tom be done, because this is the END.
Talking about the Right.
WASHINGTONIANS OUT!.
No reform of DC possible.
We need people who go to DC not to reform but to dismantle.
WASHINGTONIANS OUT!.
No reform of DC possible.
We need people who go to DC not to reform but to dismantle.
There is also the 25th Amendment, but it would take honest Exec branch officials...
I hope everybody got to see Issa’s explanation to Cummings today, before their hearing. It was like Issa was talking to a little child .. and he might have been considered condescending, but to me it was Issa’s way of getting Cummings to accept the fact that the Oversight Committee is allowed to call people to appear and to answer questions.
Apparently, Cummings was upset; he ASSUMED the guy was being called before Issa because Issa already believed the guy was doing something wrong. And, as usual, Cummings was doing his best to shield the WH from any accountability.
MY QUESTION IS: Why is Cummings even in the room, sitting at the dias, asking anybody questions, and being snarky and snotty about anything .. MR. CUMMINGS IS A PARTY TO THE IRS INVESTIGATION - VIA HIS EMAIL TO THE IRS.
I’m still waiting for an answer. Maybe I’ll call Mr. Issa’s local office here in SoCal and see what they have to say about it.
What a frigging joke.
Send the Sgt at Arms after Simas !
Agree. All talk and no action is costing the taxpayers PLENTY! This is getting old.
“Democrats, led by ranking member Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, said they strongly disagree with the White House’s claim of absolute immunity but also strongly disagree with Issa’s push to press the issue, warning it could hurt the institution if they take a case to court. “
Another Democrat whore trying to have it both ways.
Congress is upholding the principle that no one is above the law? They’re kidding, right?
Well said except I don’t think that the right has a prayer of gaining power even if the GOP wins every single contest.
The fatal flaw, if it is one, is not in the original framing but in the passing of the 17th amendment.
Given that impeachment is the way to indict a sitting President, conviction in the Senate was the removal with the expectation that the jurors were the representatives of the States.
Remember that the President was supposed to preside over inter-state issues, the common defense, and foreign affairs on behalf of all the states. The parties to the federal government were the states, the federal government to which the states delegated limited powers, and the People who ordained and established the Constitution.
Prior to the 17th amendment, Senators were beholden to their state legislatures that sent them. If a state wanted a President removed, it was likely that the Senator would vote for the state's interest. After the 17th amendment, the Senate became party-based, not state-based. Today, the Senate votes along strict party lines, and a Senator will not vote to remove a President of their own party no matter what their home state wants.
-PJ
Yeah, vote against him. That’ll show him!
Until arrests and jail time are routinely imposed on these open criminals, nothing will happen.
“Why is Cummings even in the room”
Three guesses.
Send the Serjeant-at-Arms out to arrest his ass.
Obama pushes the envelope, they should too.
Lois Lerner approved tax exempt status for foundation
operated by Obama's half-brother on a Sunday
Pictured: Obama’s half-brother wearing Hamas scarf that boasts ‘Jerusalem is ours—WE ARE COMING’
Obama’s Brother Joins Hamas, Wears Scarf Saying ‘Jerusalem Is Ours; We Are Coming’
Barack Obama’s Brother Malik Joins Hamas Terrorist Group
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