Rep. Garrett (R-NJ) and Sec. LaHood Spar Over Letter re: Sen. Kyl (R-AZ) at House Budget Committee
Washington,
Jul 24 -
Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) grilled Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in today’s Budget Committee hearing regarding a letter LaHood sent to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer about Arizona Senator Jon Kyl’s (R-NJ) remarks regarding stimulus.
Kyl had made public statements criticizing stimulus spending. On July 14, the White House released letters from four cabinet secretaries that had been sent to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. These letters referenced Kyl's comments and outlined transportation, housing, Indian education and other projects the secretaries said could be eliminated.
Garrett asked LaHood, “Should I have any concerns that I even raise this? That I would get a letter sent to Governor Corzine of New Jersey saying, "Well the Congressman voted against the stimulus, and so therefore we're wondering whether you want to receive the money?"”
Additionally, Garrett asked, “Did anyone inside or outside the Administration encourage you to write that letter?” to which LaHood repeatedly answered, “I don't need any encouragement to write letters to governors,” until LaHood finally responded, “No.”
Click here to watch (video quality being updated)
Below is an excerpt of the exchange between Garrett and LaHood.
Rep. Garrett: Should I have any concerns that I even raise this? That I would get a letter sent to Governor Corzine of New Jersey saying, "Well the Congressman voted against the stimulus, and so therefore we're wondering whether you want to receive the money?"
Secretary LaHood: Congressman, the letter was not sent because of anybody's vote. It was sent because of a statement that was made on national television about "maybe we should send the money back" and I wanted to check with the elected official in the state that has responsibility. It has nothing to do with anybody's vote...We don't base our decisions on how people vote.
Garrett: You do base them on public statement apparently.
...
Rep. Garrett: Did anyone inside or outside the Administration encourage you to write that letter?
Secretary LaHood: I don't need any encouragement to write letters to governors, Congressman.
Garrett: Did anyone inside or outside the Administration contact you or encourage you to write that letter?
LaHood: I don't need any encouragement from anybody to write letters, Congressman. My job is to work with governors.
Garrett: You just answered that question. Did anyone inside or outside the Administration encourage you to write that letter?
LaHood: Congressman, my responsibility is to work with governors.
Garrett: Can you answer the question?
LaHood: I'm going to answer it.
Garrett: It's a yes or no. Did anyone in or outside the Administration encourage you to write that letter?
LaHood: I don't need any encouragement
Garrett: Can you answer the question? Whether you need the encouragement or not, did anyone -
LaHood: I don't need any encouragement, that's my answer
Garrett: Can you answer the question? Mr. Chairman, would the witness please answer the question? Did anyone in or outside the Administration encourage you to write that letter? Whether you need the encouragement or not, did anyone encourage you to write that letter?
LaHood: No.
Garrett: Did anybody talk to you about writing that letter?
LaHood: No.
Garrett: It was all entirely your decision?
LaHood: Congressman - you want me to answer or you want to go on? My answer is, we work with governors all the time. That's our job. They're responsible. And so we, we wanted to contact the governor of Arizona because of what the senior senator, or the junior senator from Arizona had said on television.
