House Democrats fuming over Mattis canceling hearing
CNN · 7 hours ago
Washington (CNN)House Democrats are fuming after Ret. Gen. James Mattis abruptly canceled his appearance before the House Armed Services …
House Democrats fuming over Mattis canceling hearing
Washington (CNN)House
Democrats are fuming after Ret. Gen. James Mattis abruptly canceled his
appearance before the House Armed Services Committee slated for
Thursday. The move is triggering a backlash from top House Democrats who
say without hearing directly from Mattis they will oppose legislation
paving the way for his confirmation.
"The
Republicans have been spending eight years complaining about the
executive branch usurping legislative branch power and here's their
first move from the new administration is to ignore us on something,"
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, the top Democrat on the panel told
reporters Wednesday.
Smith added, "This is a law. We have to pass it and we want to hear from him and if we don't we are going to vote no."
Current
law prohibits anyone who has served in the military in the last seven
years to have a top leadership position in the Pentagon. That means
Congress needs to pass a law that provides an exception for Mattis, who
retired three years ago, to serve as defense secretary before the Senate
votes on his confirmation.
Smith
told reporters that Trump transition officials made the decision to pull
Mattis from the House hearing Wednesday. Mattis did initially agree to
House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry's request to appear and
answer questions from members about taking a job typically held by
civilians.
"General
Mattis' current focus is on following the constitutional process for
confirmation by the United States Senate and testifying at his
confirmation hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, if
confirmed he looks forward to working with both the Senate and House
Armed Services Committees, which play critical roles in supporting our
forces and ensuring civilian control of the military," said Alleigh
Marre, a Trump transition spokeswoman.
House
Republican leaders scheduled a vote for Friday on a bill to provide
Mattis with a waiver, and even with potentially large numbers of
Democratic defections GOP aides say they are confident the measure will
pass.
Thornberry is expected to support the bill, according to an aide, despite the dust-up on the hearing.
Mattis
already had a busy day slated for Thursday, when he will testify at his
confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. That
panel is also expected to approve the Mattis waiver bill later in the
day.
Since he was tapped by
President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Pentagon Mattis has received
bipartisan praise for his military career. While some have expressed
concerns about setting aside the precedent of maintaining civilian
leadership in the military, it's expected that the waiver legislation
will be approved by both chambers and Mattis will be confirmed as one of
the first Cabinet members. Senate leaders are aiming to have his
confirmation vote on Inauguration Day, January 20.
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