Washington, July 31, 2012 -

Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-09) released the following statement today, after voting against S. 679, the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011.  The bill, if enacted, would alter the Senate’s confirmation process by eliminating the required consent of the Senate needed for certain Presidential appointees, reducing the number of appointees needing Senate confirmation from about 1,200 to about 1,000.     

“Time and time again, the Obama Administration has shown the American people it’s willing to abuse the power of the Oval Office.  From ignoring federal laws currently on the books, to legislating through executive fiat, to failing to defend federal law in the courts, there appears to be no bounds for this White House when it comes to ignoring its duty to enforce the law of the land.  Congress should absolutely not relinquish more power -- and its constitutional duty under Article II, Section II to provide consent in the nomination process -- to the Executive Branch. The President already controls more than 2,700 political appointees not subject to Senate confirmation, and if that number increases due to this legislation, the Executive Branch will become even less transparent.

“Our founding fathers established the Senate confirmation process to check the President and keep him from abusing his power. This Administration has only proven the need for a check on the powers of the President, and I believe this legislation is a step in the wrong direction. If the Senate thinks the confirmation process is too time consuming, Congress needs to examine the Senate’s procedures, not enable the Senate to do less work or give the Executive Branch more power.”