McConnell Slams Obama Recess Appointment of "Czar"

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell quickly criticized President Barack Obama's recess appointment of yet another Czar. Obama appointed Richard Cordray as head of the new CFPB, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. All the Czars are unelected and unaccountable, and for this one, Obama by-passed Congressional approval by making the appointment while the Congress is in recess.

Here is McConnell's statement:

Although the Senate is not in recess, President Obama, in an unprecedented move, has arrogantly circumvented the American people by 'recess' appointing Richard Cordray as director of the new CFPB. This recess appointment represents a sharp departure from a long-standing precedent that has limited the President to recess appointments only when the Senate is in a recess of 10 days or longer. Breaking from this precedent lands this appointee in uncertain legal territory, threatens the confirmation process and fundamentally endangers the Congress’s role in providing a check on the excesses of the executive branch.


The CFPB is poised to be one of the least accountable and most powerful agencies in Washington. Created by the deeply flawed Dodd-Frank law, it is subject to none of the checks that independent agencies normally operate under, and will have an unprecedented reach and control over individual consumer decisions. Earlier this year, 44 of my Senate Republican colleagues and I served notice that we will not confirm any nominee as director, regardless of party, until structural changes are made to make the bureau accountable to the American people—and more transparent. Our request was met with silence from the administration. As a result just last month the Senate rejected Cordray’s nomination. Congress has a constitutional duty to examine presidential nominees, a responsibility that serves as a check on executive power. But once again, the President has chosen to circumvent the confirmation process.

Way To Go, Brett Guthrie

Congressman Brett Guthrie, though newly-elected, is proving to be a voice for common sense on the Hill. Guthrie has co-sponsored legislation that would withhold funds from the Obama administrations myriad "czars" unless and until they go through Senate confirmation.

Guthrie's press release states:

"I am pleased to co-sponsor legislation to ensure that no public funds are appropriated for the salaries of czars who have not been confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

"Only a few of the over 30 Czars that have been appointed by the president, have actually been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The Administration relies on these unique appointments to advance the President's agenda and these Czars are given a tremendous amount of power over important policy areas.

"Czars should be put through the same constitutionally-mandated process that all executive appointments must go through. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 3226 and look forward to supporting this bill when it comes before the U.S. House of Representatives."

BACKGROUND: Congressman Guthrie is a co-sponsor of H.R. 3226, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 15, 2009, by Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA). The bill requires any task force, council, or similar office (including Czars) which is established or appointed by the President, to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.