Just yesterday, I told you that the current administration is doing this thing where they turn political appointments into civil employees, in a process called “burrowing,” in order to make sure these people keep their jobs and can continue making policy.  Well, today, Senate Democrats are saying, “Hey.  Knock that off.”  In fact, Senators Schumer and Feinstein wrote a strongly-worded letter to the President, in which they said,

Today’s report reveals that senior members of your administration are undermining your public commitment to ease the transition by reorganizing agencies at the eleventh hour and installing political appointees in key positions for which they may not be qualified.  We respectfully urge you to stand by your public commitment to a smooth transition by directing executive agencies immediately to halt any conversions of political appointees to career positions.

The Washington Post reports that though “Democrats in the Senate called on President Bush to halt any effort by his administration to place political appointees in career jobs just weeks before his team leaves office,” the administration isn’t playing games with the Senate.  White House Spokeswoman Dana Perino, in responding to questions, said that, hey, we don’t know what you’re talking about. She says that as a

matter of policy, the White House has not encouraged noncareer appointees to seek career positions in order to further the president’s policies. The White House doesn’t play a role in that career hiring process.

So the White House denies they can do anything, and the Office of Personnel Management, who oversees this, said that they won’t disclose any information on the practice.  Awesome.  Like I said yesterday, though, this is not a new idea.

While political appointees also burrowed into career jobs under Bill Clinton and other presidents, Jimmy Carter blocked the practice after his loss in 1980 to Ronald Reagan. “I can still remember Transportation Secretary Neil Goldschmidt making the announcement on a teleconference call,” recalled Bob Krause, who served as a regional representative for the transportation secretary. “Carter’s integrity on the subject deserves recognition.”

Ah, yes.  I love politicking.  It’s only unfair when it happens to us.  Anyhow, we’re still trying to ensure a smooth transition here, so takepart and visit Barack Obama’s transition website to learn about the steps in place to take over power.