Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Senators say Bush administration slowing Katrina inquiry ^ Lara Jakes Jordan ™ THE ASSOCIATED PrI;SS WASHINGTON — The White House is crippling a Senate inquiry into the government’s sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina by barring administration officials from answering questions and failing to hand over documents, senators leading the investigation said Tuesday. In some cases, staff at the White House and ^ other federal agencies have refused to be interviewed by congressional investigators, said the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. In addition, agency officials won’t answer seemingly innocuous questions about times and dates of meetings and telephone calls with the White House, the senators said. A White House spokesman said the administration is committed to working with separate Senate and House investigations of the Katrina response but wants to protect the confidentiality of presidential advisers. “No one believes that the government responded adequately,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn. “And I we can’t put that stpry together if people feel they’re under a gag order from the White House.” Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the committee’s Republican chair, said she respects the White House’s reluctance to reveal advice to President Bush from his top aides, which is generally covered by executive privilege. Still, she criticized the dearth of information from agency officials about their contacts with the White House. “We are entitled to know if someone from the Department of Homeland Security calls someone at the White House during this whole crisis period,” Collins said. “So I think the White House has gone too far in restricting basic information about who called whom on what day.” She added, “It is completely inappropriate” for the White House to bar agency officials from talking to the Senate committee. White House spokesman Trent Duffy said the administration’s deputy homeland security adviser, Ken Rapuano, has briefed House and Senate lawmakers on the federal response. A “lessons learned” report from Homeland Security Adviser Frances Fragos Townsend also is expected in coming weeks, Duffy said> But he defended the administration’s decision to prohibit White House staffers or other presidential advisers from testifying before Congress. “There is a deliberate process, and the White House has always said it wants to cooperate with the committee but preserve any president’s ability to get advice from advisers on a confidential basis,” Duffy said. “And that’s a critical need for any U.S. president and that is continuing to influence how we cooperate with the committees.” - Collins and Lieberman sidestepped questions about whether they plan to subpoena the White House to get the information they seek, though Collins said she does not believe subpoenaing the Homeland Security Department is necessary. The Senate inquiry is scheduled to conclude in March with a report detailing steps the federal government took — and didn’t take — to prepare for the Aug. 29 storm. Investigators have interviewed about 260 witnesses from federal, state and local governments and the private sector. rha • conunucD PRom i away their chance to learn and grow,” Wilkins said. The visitation policy has long been an issue for RHA members, but its Senate had not addressed it because they believed the USC administration would not ^ support any changes. “It’s your choice, and you have to live with that choice. You have to decide how to manage your time; the best way to promote learning is to give them a choice,” Wilkins said. As of now, the suggested change is in proposal only, but next week the Senate will vote whether to adopt it and send it to the proper USC authorities. Other upcoming plans in RHA include a push to start up a shuttle service that would go to Harbison Boulevard. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm. sc. edu EVERY WOMAN WANTS IT. SOME WOMEN WANT IT MORE. TARTE DAYS! THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 & FRIDAY, JANUARY 27 CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF TARTE TO COLUMBIA! | The coolest products are now the hottest in ■ Columbia. Fun, easy-to-use make-up, like push-up ■ cheek stains and double-ended lip glosses, take the 9 stress out of your make-up routine. Eyeshadows ^B and blushes in luxe leatherette compacts with 9 mini-mirrors make Tarte Cosmetics portable, affordable and user-friendly. So, grab a friend 1 and join us for the celebration. Tarte is finally here! Exclusively at Pout! Free makeovers Samples with all purchases Chance to win $ 100 gift bag Drop by or call 254.5051 to book an appointment! COSMETICS SKIN BATH 2700 DEVINE STREET COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA 29205 803.254.5051 M-F 10-6:00 SATURDAYS 1 1-5:00