[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21950]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 CZARS

  (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, since being sworn in, the 
President has appointed 34 czars--the health czar, the car czar, an 
urban czar, a Great Lakes czar. These are just to name a few. In 300 
years, czarist Russia just had 18 czars. Why do we need 34? We have an 
energy czar and a Secretary of Energy. We have a health czar and a 
Secretary of Health. Worse, 27 of the 34 czars have not even been 
confirmed by the Senate despite a constitutional requirement. These 
czars make $172,000 yearly, and that doesn't include expensive, 
unchecked staff with zero accountability.
  I backed legislation that would withhold funding from any czar not 
confirmed by the Senate. Americans want, need and deserve transparency 
and accountability. Let's rein in the czars.

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