Politics, College Students and the Special Counsel

What does the College Access Program, which allows District of Columbia high school graduates to attend colleges all over the country at in-state rates, have to do with the Office of Special Counsel? Rep. Tom Davis, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has managed to make a connection between the two. This week, he proposed to support the college program by stripping $1 million from OSC's budget. That move just happens to come in the immediate aftermath of OSC's controversial investigation into the head of the General Services Administration.

Here's Davis' press release on his efforts (it's not on his Web site yet):

Davis: House Democrats Choose Politics Over D.C. Grads

Amendment Defeat 'A Clear Indication of Priorities'

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) expressed dismay today that, in a blatant show of partisan politics, House Democrats chose to support a widely criticized head of the Office of Special Counsel over giving enhanced support to high school graduates in the nation's capital.

"For years, Democrats have vilified Special Counsel Scott Bloch for mismanaging and politicizing his office, undermining employee rights and targeting whistleblowers within his agency," Davis said. "Now that he's turned his heavy-handed, retaliatory sights on Bush administration officials, they're rushing to his defense - even when it's at the expense of D.C. students trying to go on to college, at a time when Mayor Fenty is doing all he can to rescue the city's schools system. Today's vote is a clear indication of Democrats' priorities: politics over education."

The Davis amendment would have taken $1 million from OSC and redirected it entirely to D.C.'s much-touted, overwhelmingly successful College Access Program, which levels the playing field by allowing D.C. high school graduates to attend colleges around the nation at in-state rates.

Democrats have repeatedly questioned whether OSC was doing its job - until OSC set its sights on a high-ranking Bush administration appointee:

"Mr. Bloch ought to find a new job. He ought to be fired. President Bush should not tolerate this from someone he appointed," Rep. Elliot Engel told AP in 2004.

"Mr. Bloch's actions are part of a larger attack on the federal civil service by the Bush Administration. Over the past 3 ½ years, federal employees have lost collective bargaining and appeals rights, they have seen their jobs outsourced and now they face discrimination based on their sexual orientation," Rep. Henry Waxman wrote in 2004.

"Where were these Democrats and many others today, when OSC is still politicized and mismanaged and when D.C. grads are looking for additional support?" Davis asked.