Senate takes on Smithsonian chief's 'champagne lifestyle'

The Senate on Thursday adopted an amendment to the budget resolution from Finance ranking member Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, fencing off $17 million of the Smithsonian Institution's budget until changes are put in place.

The amendment was approved on a voice vote after Senate Rules Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who has jurisdiction over the matter, released her objections. Grassley has been doggedly pursuing reports of excessive spending by Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small, such as the use of private jet and car service, cleaning of his chandelier, and other perks paid for with museum funds.

Grassley's amendment to the $2.9 trillion fiscal 2008 budget blueprint would prevent the Appropriations Committee from approving a $17 million increase in the Smithsonian budget until the Budget Committee releases the funds when certain conditions are met.

The amendment's future had been in doubt since Feinstein raised her concerns. Feinstein chairs the authorizing committee with jurisdiction over the Smithsonian as well as the Interior Appropriations subcommittee that provides its funding. She said earlier Thursday the budget resolution was not the proper place for the debate and it would tie her panels' hands in dealing with the issue.

The Rules panel is holding its first hearing on the matter April 11. "I am both on the authorizing committee and the appropriating committee. We really want to do this the right way, which is to have a series of hearings ... and have the people before us, and then make a decision that's based on analysis, rather than make the judgment here without any of that," Feinstein said.

But within hours the amendment had been accepted. A Feinstein spokesman said she changed her mind after discussing the matter with other senators, and that although her panels were the more appropriate place to conduct oversight, it was in the best "strategic" interest to allow the amendment to pass.

Grassley argues the amendment would not be overly prescriptive and would send a clear signal that Congress will not tolerate Small's activities, while ensuring the Smithsonian will not allow it to happen again. Grassley said he appreciated Feinstein's interest in holding hearings, but that Congress needs to send a more immediate message with his amendment.

"It signals to the Smithsonian that a champagne lifestyle at taxpayer expense is unacceptable," he said. "It tells the secretary and his wife to think twice about planning their next first-class vacation underwritten by the taxpayers and Smithsonian donors. We hear a lot from Democratic leaders on how the elections brought real change. I'm looking forward to some ethics reform at the national museum a few blocks from the Capitol."