HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

Washington, Jan 13 - House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) criticized a decision by House Democratic leaders to increase the number of Intelligence Committee Democrats while cutting the number of Republicans.  The decision is the exact opposite of what the 9/11 Commission recommended and undermines the Democrats’ pledge to enact all 9/11 recommendations.  Boehner issued the following statement:

“We want to work together with President-elect Obama on matters of national intelligence, but the decision by Democratic leaders to make policymaking and oversight at the House Intelligence Committee more partisan undermines that effort.  In the last Congress, Republicans led bipartisan efforts to strip all earmarks from the annual intelligence bill and pass terrorist surveillance legislation to help keep America safe.  And now Democratic leaders are seeking political advantage on a committee charged with protecting the American people.

“It is ironic that Democratic leaders first sought political gain from the 9/11 Commission recommendations, and yet now political considerations are driving them to undermine a key 9/11 Commission recommendation designed to ensure that both parties work together on national security decisions.  The Majority claims to support all of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, but are in fact defying one of its most important ones: to make intelligence oversight less partisan.  They can’t have it both ways.”

NOTE:  “The majority party’s representation on this committee should never exceed the minority’s representation by more than one.” – National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Final Report, pg. 421

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