Kucinich Demands Investigation Of Missing $9 Billion- Instead We Get An Investigation of Steroid Use

WASHINGTON - Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), the Ranking Member on the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, today demanded a broad investigation of the $9 billion in missing reconstruction funds in Iraq, including a criminal investigation and Congressional hearings.

Kucinich will send two letters today calling for a full investigation into the missing $9 billion in funds in Iraq. One letter will be sent to Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT), Chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, requesting an immediate Congressional hearing. The second letter will be sent to United States Attorney General-designate Alberto Gonzales demanding a criminal investigation, including a grand jury, by the United States Department of Justice.

"In view of this Administration’s tendency for covert or secret operations, there is no assurance that these funds were not misused for illegal or unauthorized activities," stated Kucinich. "The Administration, the Department of Defense, and Coalition Provisional Authority must be held directly responsible for this staggering lack of accountability of $9 billion. If ever there was a reason for a grand jury to start asking questions of high ranking federal government officials, this is it."

Kucinich’s actions followed a report issued yesterday, by the special inspector general (IG) for Iraq, Stuart Bowen Jr., which stated the U.S. occupation authority in Iraq was unable to keep track of nearly $9 billion in funds it transferred to government ministries between October 2003 and June 2004.

"It is simply not believable that the Administration lost track of every dime of the funds. The Administration willfully turned a blind eye and allowed the misuse of funds, and now must be held accountable," continued Kucinich.

http://www.commondreams.org/news200...

House’s steroid probe ill-advised, says Kanjo

“ It’s an extraordinary power that Congress has. ... I’m not convinced that the issue is so grave to require the use of subpoenas.”
Paul Kanjorski Congressional Democrat from Nanticoke

HARRISBURG - Allegations of rampant steroid use in Major League Baseball might captivate sports fans, but it’s not a subject that should command the attention of Congress, according to U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski.

The Nanticoke Democrat is the fifth-highest ranking minority member of the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform, which made national headlines this week for issuing subpoenas to seven current and former baseball stars to force them to appear at a March 17 hearing on steroid use.

Kanjorski said Friday he is disturbed by the committee’s actions, noting that Congress has more pressing issues before it. He also said the power of subpoena is a potent legal tool that should be used only in extreme circumstances.

“It’s an extraordinary power that Congress has, and it has the ability to infringe on the freedoms and liberties of an individual. I’m not convinced that the issue is so grave to require the use of subpoenas.”

Kanjorski’s position is at odds with the stances of Republican committee Chairman Tom Davis and ranking Democratic member Henry Waxman.

The two leaders of the 39-member standing committee issued a joint statement earlier this week in support of their decision to subpoena the players, as well as four baseball officials.

“The committee will conduct a thorough, fair, and responsible investigation,” Davis and Waxman said. “It is important the American people know the facts on baseball’s steroid scandal. And it is important that all Americans, especially children, know about the dangers of drug use.

“Consistent with our jurisdiction over the nation’s drug policy, we need to better understand the steps MLB is taking to get a handle on the steroid issue, and whether news of those steps - and the public health danger posed by steroid use - is reaching America’s youth.”

The committee has issued subpoenas to former players Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, as well as current players Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Jason Giambi and Frank Thomas.

Schilling said Friday he would willingly appear before the committee, but the league and the MLB Players Association have vowed to fight the subpoenas.

Kanjorski said he believes some of the players might be justified in refusing to testify before the committee, noting that a grand jury investigation regarding steroid use and Major League Baseball is under way in San Francisco. “This hearing could jeopardize the grand jury investigation.”

The league has argued that the congressional committee has no jurisdiction over baseball, and therefore has no authority to subpoena its players and officials.

Kanjorski disagrees, saying the committee has jurisdiction over all issues related to the federal drug policy. However, he said, he has not seen evidence to show that the steroid scandal is more important than other concerns of the day.

“Is this the most important issue for the U.S. Congress to spend its time on? Our national debt is skyrocketing, our currency is in a free-fall, our soldiers are dying overseas, and we’re going to worry about seven members of Major League Baseball just because it’s a sexy issue and because someone is trying to make money off his book?”

Kanjorski refers to Canseco, the former slugger for the Oakland Athletics who revealed in his tell-all book that he and many other professional baseball players routinely used steroids to enhance their performance on the field. Waxman has said the scandal triggered by the book prompted the hearing.

Kanjorski called the subpoenas “demeaning to Congress” and said the committee has yet to provide him any information on the pending hearing, including the reasons for holding it. Until the committee makes a compelling case for its involvement in the steroid scandal, he said he’ll continue to oppose it.

“I’m not big into sports and I’m not big into baseball. I’ve got bigger things to think about that are of real national importance.”

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/time...