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Monday, January 11, 2016

Official Admits Slow in WOTUS Subpoena Response

The White House has been very tardy in providing records requested by a House subpoena related to the administration’s efforts to clarify the Clean Water Act by issuing the Waters of the US (WOTUS) rule, Associate Director for Legislative Affairs in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Tamara Fucile told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
“I admit completely that our production hasn’t been fast enough. We will do better,” Fucile told the committee, citing the “incredibly broad” scope of the subpoena, which requests nine years’ worth of records. She declined to confirm when OMB could fully comply with the subpoena, only promising to speed record production going forward.
Frustration was expressed from both parties in Congress. “Is this the best you can do? I’m tenacious. I’m not going to give up on this,” Rep. Mark Meadows, R-NC said. Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, lamented, “Wow, this is what we’re up against.” Rep. Steven Lynch, D-Mass., said, “You need to do better, you really do.”
A minority of members stepped up to defend OMB, with Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, noting that “it’s a staggering amount of work,” given the large scope and volume of the requests.