House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders welcomed President Obama’s plan that purports to shrink government, but they expressed some skepticism that his plan would actually deliver the down-sizing benefits.
“It’s not often that we see real proposals from this administration to make government smaller, ” said Committee chair Fred Upton, R-Mich., in response Obama’s unveiling a plan to close the Commerce Department and reorganize other entities. “I look forward to reviewing the proposal, and hope that it will be the first of many to unravel the red tape and create a smaller, more efficient federal government.”
Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Fla., seemed even more suspicious of the president’s intentions. “This is an interesting proposal and merits serious review, but it must not be ‘window dressing’ and a consolidation in name only,” the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee chair said in her statement.
Obama said that, “with or without Congress,” he would attempt to streamline federal agencies. “I’m hopeful it’s with Congress because this is an area where we can receive bipartisan support,” he said.
