Ron Johnson changes tune on watchdog independence under Trump

[tulc]

PolitiFact - Ron Johnson changes tune on watchdog independence under Trump

When inspectors general were up for debate in 2015, Johnson spoke out strongly and repeatedly about the need for independence, saying they shouldn’t compromise their work "to appease the agency or the president." He specifically condemned the idea of retaliating against inspectors general for reports superiors didn’t like.

A report from his committee even said the president’s ability to remove an inspector general "threatens the IG’s independence at a very basic level."

Of course, that was under a Democratic president.

With a Republican now in the Oval Office and removing several inspectors general for reasons many view as political, Johnson is singing a different tune. He talks about inspectors general serving "at the president’s will," and how they "work and serve the president of the United States."

That’s a complete change in position, or as we call it, a Full Flop.

tulc(thought this was interesting)

 

[Albion]

tulc(thought this was interesting)

What's so interesting about a left-of-center publication taking yet one more opportunity to vilify the President of the United States? That's dime-a-dozen stuff.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

PolitiFact - Ron Johnson changes tune on watchdog independence under Trump

tulc(thought this was interesting)

Well, he is a politician after all.

 

[tulc]

What's so interesting about a left-of-center publication taking yet one more opportunity to vilify the President of the United States? That's dime-a-dozen stuff.

...and yet, I note, here you are, commenting on it. But since you asked, I thought it was interesting seeing how quickly someone was willing, after 4 years of screaming about how important a particular part of the government oversight was, to abandon a staunchly held belief simply so he could be in President Trump's good graces. Because, as we all know: you can't be a President Trump guy if you aren't willing to (enthusiastically and without question) do everything he wants.
tulc(hopes that answers Albion's question of why something was interesting)

 

[jgarden]

Ron Johnson changes tune on watchdog independence under Trump
May 17, 2020

Johnson took a prominent role defending inspectors general in 2015, when many Republicans in Congress were criticizing Obama for delays making permanent appointments.

"It’s just incredibly important to have permanent inspectors general that are completely independent that will provide Congress and the American public transparency and that watchdog assignment — that responsibility for departments and agencies — so that we have awareness of what’s happening," Johnson said at a hearing on inspectors general that he chaired. "It’s the only way we’re going to be able to improve the efficiency, the effectiveness, the accountability of government is to have that type of transparency."

At that hearing, Johnson also criticized the act of "retaliating against people that were issuing reports" that their superiors didn’t like, the Washington Post reported.

In a June 2015 statement before a Congressional committee hearing, Johnson said permanent inspectors general are needed because they are more secure in their position and less at risk of "compromising their work to appease the agency or the president."

And a May 2015 report spoke even more directly to the present situation. The report, issued by the Homeland Security Committee, which Johnson chairs, said this in support of the proposed Inspector General Empowerment Act of 2015:

"The power of the President … to remove an IG threatens the IG's independence at a very basic level. The IG Act attempted to temper this power by adding procedural safeguards meant to protect IGs from being removed for political or other nefarious reasons."

PolitiFact - Ron Johnson changes tune on watchdog independence under Trump
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What's so interesting about a left-of-center publication taking yet one more opportunity to vilify the President of the United States? That's dime-a-dozen stuff.

Take note that "Albion" makes no effort to address the facts concerning Johnson's "hypocrisy" because there's no defense against his direct quotes - apparently, however, only those publications that share this President's view of the world have the necessary credentials to criticize Trump and his supporters!