Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), chairman of a Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, will hold a hearing next week on President Obama’s use of “czars.”
Feingold has joined several Republicans and conservative talking heads in criticizing Obama over how many czars he’s appointed. The term, although in no official title, applies to positions in the executive branch that don’t need the approval of Congress. But several of the “czars” mentioned by Glenn Beck and the like actually have been approved by lawmakers.
Feingold is running for re-election next year.
The attack of these czars, at town halls and right-wing events, has been a conservative crowd-pleaser. For example, a speaker at the Take Back America Conference last week, attended by Mike Huckabee and other luminaries, called “diversity czar” Mark Lloyd the new Joseph Goebbels. Lloyd is the chief diversity officer at the Federal Communications Commission.
Feingold’s hearing, called “Examining the History and Legality of Executive Branch Czars” will be had Oct. 6. The New York Times reports that, according to Feingold’s office, the White House likely won’t send representatives to the hearing.
