Senate lawmakers reject Ridge’s offer to meet

Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W.V., on Thursday turned away an offer from Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge to informally brief his committee on domestic security plans.

In recent weeks, Byrd and ranking committee member Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, have expressed frustration about Ridge's refusal to appear before the committee to explain the operations of his office. The lawmakers also want Ridge to detail the administration's budget requests of $38 billion for domestic security and $5.2 billion in supplemental appropriations. White House officials told lawmakers that Ridge would not come to Capitol Hill to testify because his position does not require it, saying only Senate-confirmed heads of agencies that implement policy must testify before Congress.

In a March 25 letter Ridge offered to informally brief Byrd's committee. An earlier offer to meet informally with lawmakers was spurned by Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. However, some House lawmakers accepted the terms and members of the House Government Affairs Committee plan to meet with Ridge on April 11. A second meeting with House Energy and Commerce Committee members is pending.

In a letter to Ridge Thursday Byrd refused to budge, saying it is "essential" that Senate appropriators hear Ridge's views and strategies.

"It is the unquestionable duty of all citizens to cooperate with Congress in its effort to obtain the information needed for intelligent legislative action," Byrd wrote. "I am unaware of any instance in which a public briefing has been used as a substitute for responding to a Senate Appropriations Committee request for testimony concerning funding needs."

At a briefing for reporters Wednesday, Ridge said he had spoken informally on 35 occasions with senators and House members since last fall.

"I have been, am and will continue to be accessible to members of Congress of the United States," he said.

Byrd and Stevens have requested a meeting with President Bush to discuss the situation.