Compromise Takes Shape for Inspectors General Bill

After a decade of debate, Congress appears ready to strengthen the independence of the government's inspectors general.

The Senate, on a voice vote late Wednesday, approved a bill that would set job qualifications for inspectors general, allow Congress to determine if an agency was trying to punish an IG by cutting his or her budget and ensure that all audits and investigative reports are posted on agency Web sites within three workdays.

"This bill is key to preserving the IGs' role as government watchdogs and making sure they can do their job of rooting out waste in this country," Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said in a statement. She and Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) are the bill's chief sponsors.

The House approved a similar bill in October, championed by Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), on a vote of 404 to 11. But the Bush administration lodged a veto threat against Cooper's bill, prompting the Senate to soften its version while still trying to protect IGs from political pressure.

House and Senate aides plan to hold informal talks on how to shape a compromise bill. Some of the aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity, were optimistic that an agreement could be reached that would pass muster at the White House.

Cooper yesterday praised the Senate's action: "With the passage of Sen. McCaskill's companion bill, we're one step closer to seeing this legislation signed into law. I'm encouraged by the nearly unanimous votes in both chambers and look forward to working out a good compromise."

Inspectors general walk fine lines in the government. Those who end up at large agencies are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate and are expected to serve both masters. They are supposed to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse in agencies, while doing their best not to blindside the political appointees that run them.

Last year, some Democrats expressed concern in hearings that some inspectors general seemed too wary of crossing their bosses; others suggested that IGs need to be held more accountable for their work.

The House bill moved first, drawing objections from the White House. Those objections contributed to Senate efforts to create a bill able to win bipartisan support, leading to slightly different approaches in three areas.

Cooper's bill would provide IGs with seven-year terms, let them submit budget requests directly to Congress and permit the White House to fire them only for cause.

The Senate bill would not provide a guaranteed term in office, would require the White House to show how much money each IG requested and the amount recommended in the president's budget, and would require a notification about any effort to remove an IG.

But both bills would urge the appointment of IGs with "demonstrated ability" in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration or investigations. The bills would also create a council to review allegations of wrongdoing made against IGs and their staffs.