A Rookie Cardinal to Set Hill Priorities

A day after grabbing the reins of the newly revived House Appropriation subcommittee on the legislative branch, sophomore Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) defined the priorities of her chairmanship Friday: establishing increased accountability for the Capitol Visitor Center project and properly addressing the many deferred maintenance needs of Capitol Hill.

     After a two-year absence, the subcommittee was reborn last week by the newly installed Democratic majority. And in an organizational meeting Thursday, Schultz found herself with the opportunity to head a panel that was eliminated by the Republican-led 109th Congress within her first days of service.

     Schultz, who was known as an aggressive fundraiser in the 2006 cycle and was in the mix to head the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee before Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) was tapped for the spot, said she didnt go into Thursdays Appropriations Committee meeting actively campaigning for the top spot on the legislative branch panel. But mechanically it was a matter of it being open when it was my turn to choose a subcommittee assignment. … Any time a you have the opportunity to lead a portion of the Congressional budget I cant imagine someone wouldnt be interested in that.

     After just being named to Appropriations last month, Schultz said it was humbling to take over a subcommittee that, along with the House Administration Committee, is responsible for a dozen Hill agencies and thousands of legislative branch employees.

     Republican Rep. Jack Kingston (Ga.), the chairman of the legislative branch panel in the 108th Congress, called the return of the panel a good thing in that more committees lends itself to more oversight.

     However, when asked if he was looking for the top minority spot on the panel when Republicans meet early this week to decide on ranking member posts, Kingston said, Im hoping to get a post a little more relevant to my district.

     As she begins the process of meeting with the chief of the Capitol Police, the Librarian of Congress and other agency heads, Schultz said she plans to bring a bit of a new philosophy to legislative branch spending.

     Traditionally the budget has been looked at year-to-year without regard for future needs and future visions. … Im at a point in my career where hopefully my constituents will allow me to be here for a long time and chairing this subcommittee Id really like to see us look at the long-term needs of the physical structure and the deferred maintenance issues that are really, really dire, she said. Beyond the deferred maintenance issues, I want to get a handle on what the needs are for the physical structure of the Library of Congress as well and get a sense of how we can look ahead for the future and make plans on how to preserve these national treasures.

     She said that in terms of oversight, theres no question we need to step up hearings that have not been had on the CVC.

     She added that she intends to get Architect of the Capitol Alan Hantmans input on the project during the last month of his tenure as well as work closely with his yet-to-be-named replacement.

     By holding regular hearings on the behind schedule and overbudget CVC, Schultz will likely please Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), who chaired the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the legislative branch in the 109th Congress, when the Senate decided not to go along with the Houses reorganization. Allard held 15 oversight hearings on the CVC over two years and has called on his Democratic counterparts to continue the effort until the project is complete.

     One unique issue Schultz will have to deal with as head of the revived panel will be re-establishing her subcommittees role on Capitol Hill after its brief absence. Though Appropriations has always controlled the purse strings, the House Administration Committee is charged with handling House operations to the point where the chairman of that committee has long been referred to as the mayor of Capitol Hill.

     But new House Administration Chairwoman Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Calif.) said last week that she doesnt foresee any turf battles between the two panels.

     We welcome that subcommittee back, Millender-McDonald said. Its an important subcommittee.

     She said that the two panels goals are the same in that we want to make this House the best-run operation it can be.

     House Administration ranking member Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) said the return of the legislative branch panel had been expected by Republicans after the Democratic takeover.

     For many, many years they worked together, Ehlers said. Both the Appropriations Committee and the House Administration Committee have a very long history, and Im sure well continue to work together just as well as we have in the past.

     Though the panel may mean more oversight, the head of one legislative branch agency said last week that she was encouraged by the return of the subcommittee.

     It will allow members to focus their attention on the individual needs of the legislative branch agencies, said Office of Compliance acting Executive Director Tamara Chrisler.

     As a very small agency, having the opportunity to present testimony to the subcommittee and provide information and be heard and speak on issues is something that we really appreciate, Chrisler said. And being so small we are not always given that opportunity.

     As she prepared to leave Washington, D.C., Friday afternoon, Schultz said that 24 hours after earning her first subcommittee gavel she was still in a bit of shock.

     Its amazing, she said. It demonstrates that particularly with a Democratic takeover of the majority theres an opportunity for a wide range of Members and a diverse group of Members and Im just thrilled to have the opportunity.

Copyright 2007