Dem leaders grill administration officials on homeland department

Members of the House's Democratic leadership team pointed out a series of problems with the Bush administration's homeland security proposal Thursday, and that could mean the plan might face stiffer-than-expected resistance in Congress.

At hearing of the House's Select Committee on Homeland Defense, House Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi of California, Democratic Caucus Chairman Martin Frost of Texas, Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., asked senior Cabinet secretaries hard-hitting questions about everything from the proposal's projected $3 billion price tag to why the new department would change what the Democrats termed "good governance," such as sunshine laws and current civil service laws.

The critiques generally tracked a set of 10 concerns outlined this week by House Government Reform ranking member Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and House Appropriations ranking member David Obey, D-Wis. But the Democrats also delved into specific concerns that have been highlighted by nearly a half-dozen authorizing committees this week.

For example, DeLauro asked Secretary of State Powell why the White House would limit freedom of information requests for the new department.

"How are we going to prevent the agency from … hiding information that [it doesn't] want to make public?" she asked. Powell said the head of the new department would have a "responsibility" to share information with the public.

The exchange over public information was not the only time members of the Democratic leadership had the Cabinet secretaries on the ropes.

Menendez also harshly questioned Powell about how the new department would help protect the homeland. Using the administration's plan to change the way visas are issued, Menendez asked, "What is it that the Department of Homeland Security will do differently?"

When Powell responded that the change would give the office a "foreign policy perspective" and a "domestic policy perspective," Menendez declared, "I fail to understand … what is going to be the difference?"

Still, the Democrats stopped short of saying the administration should not consolidate most homeland defense functions under one roof. They also praised various elements of the plan. Pelosi, the ranking member of the select committee, was the most diplomatic.

"We all agree that this battle will be won and that we will succeed by working together," she said.

However, Pelosi joined other Democrats in expressing concern that the final proposal does not ignore current good governance practices. She also cautioned Republicans several times to include Democrats in discussions on the homeland security proposal as the select committee prepares to draft and approve legislation next week.