Rep. Todd Akin (MO) published a piece today on the New Ledger. This piece on President Obama's czars is particularly thought provoking. Here's an excerpt:
Here’s a question worth answering: why does President Obama appear so eager to appoint “czars,” while leaving positions requiring Senate confirmation unfilled?
Recently, Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution held hearings on the White House’s unprecedented appointment of “czars.” Apparently, the White House was too busy to send a witness to testify on the constitutionality of its practice.
By definition, these czars are special advisers to the President, serving outside of the scope of congressional oversight. Roughly thirty-two such advisers have been appointed by the President, ranging from the “Car Czar” to the “Pay Czar” to the “Health Care Czar.” Meanwhile, the White House has only nominated candidates for 243 of the 385 executive branch positions that require Senate confirmation.
The U.S. Constitution, under Article II, Section 2, provides that Congress can vest in the President the authority to appoint inferior officers. However, serious questions exist as to whether Obama has vested authority in these czars which should only be placed in persons confirmed by the Senate, through the Constitutional advice and consent process.