Lawmaker calls for investigation over quizzing of HHS appointees

A member of the House Science Committee on Tuesday called on the Justice Department to investigate whether White House officials broke the law by quizzing Health and Human Service Department scientific advisory appointees about their political affiliations and voting records.

Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., said the White House then excluded advisers if their opinions were not in line with the Bush administration.

Because the Government Accountability Office determined that such practices are illegal, Baird penned a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft criticizing the White House and the Office of Government Ethics for deeming several GAO ethics recommendations as unnecessary.

"You have the opportunity, and responsibility, to ensure HHS is complying with existing law," Baird wrote. "I encourage you to exercise this authority to determine whether the administration is violating the law in its Federal Advisory Committee member appointment process."