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September 24th, 2009 1:00 pm
GOP Pushes WH-NEA Issue, Wants Congressional Investigation
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CNSNews.com is reporting that “House Republicans are seeking a congressional investigation and information from the White House to determine whether the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) pushed politics in a conference call with potential grant recipients.”

The issue erupted when Andrew Breitbart, of ACORN-video fame, published details of the call on his Big Hollywood website in which the White House allegedly worked with NEA officials to encourage its grant recipients to push Obama’s top policy priorities, including health care reform, cap-and-trade and other issues.   

According to Rep. John Kline (R-MN), ranking member of the House Education and Labor Committee:

The Lobbying Act and the Hatch Act are there to make sure we do not see government personnel and assets used for political purposes. … It does appear laws were broken. I want to work within the jurisdiction where I have it, which is the ranking Republican on the Education and Labor Committee.”

In addition, Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has sent a letter to Obama Sr. Advisor Valerie Jarrett at the White House asking her to provide more information about the conference call, including:

  • A full and complete list of all participants on the August 10, 2009 conference call.
  • A full and complete explanation of how invitees to the conference call were selected.
  • A full and complete description of any consultation of, or opinion provided by, the Office of the White House Counsel or any other advisor regarding the legal implications of the August 10, 2009 conference call specifically and/or the relationship between the White House and NEA generally.
  • A full and complete description of how the conference call was arranged, including which White House staff initiated contact with, or were contacted by, NEA staff, the role of the White House Office of Public Engagement, and the role of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
  • A full and complete explanation of the White House’s expectations for call participants.
  • A full and complete list of, any material produced by call participants in response to the August 10,2009 conference call.

Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, is leading the effort on the Senate side.

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