WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Senator Kit Bond, ranking member of the Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today called for a Congressional oversight hearing probing the fitness of a senior White House official.

 

In a letter to Senator Bernie Sanders, Chairman of the Subcommittee with oversight of administration green jobs efforts, Bond voiced concerned that Mr. Van Jones, as Special Advisor to the President for Green Jobs, is becoming increasingly erratic and unstable as reflected by incendiary comments and repugnant associations made public in recent days.  Mr. Van Jones is responsible for directing administration policy and spending on tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer funding regarding environmental policy and green jobs programs.  However, since the White House appointed him as a “czar,” Mr. Jones was able to avoid any oversight or confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

 

In his letter to Senator Sanders, Bond wrote, “Today, news outlets are reporting that Van Jones signed a petition from the so-called ‘Truther’ movement which suggests that the Bush administration ‘may indeed have deliberately allowed 9/11 to happen, perhaps as a pretext to war.’  I can imagine few sentiments more repulsive to our brave fighting soldiers and the victims of the 9/11 terror tragedy than to think the U.S. government deliberately allowed the events of 9/11 to occur.  Of course Mr. Jones in hindsight is embarrassed by the public disclosure of his participation in the petition drive and now asserts he did not read the fine print of the petition.  But can the American people trust a senior White House official that is so cavalier in his association with such radical and repugnant sentiments?”

 

The full text of the letter is below.

 

The full text of the letter is below.

 

                                                                        ###

 

September 4, 2009

 

The Honorable Bernard Sanders

Chairman

Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee

Committee on Environment and Public Works

U.S. Senate

Washington, DC 20510

 

Dear Bernie:

 

            Recent news reports call into question the fitness of Van Jones, the Special Advisor for Green Jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, to perform the duties entrusted to him.  I request that the Senate Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee conduct an oversight hearing of Mr. Jones’ behavior and comments to reassure the American people that their government is safe from his divisive, incendiary and ultimately counterproductive sentiments.

 

            Today, news outlets are reporting that Van Jones signed a petition from the so-called “Truther” movement which suggests that the Bush administration “may indeed have deliberately allowed 9/11 to happen, perhaps as a pretext to war.”  I can imagine few sentiments more repulsive to our brave fighting soldiers and the victims of the 9/11 terror tragedy than to think the U.S. government deliberately allowed the events of 9/11 to occur.  Of course Mr. Jones in hindsight is embarrassed by the public disclosure of his participation in the petition drive and now asserts he did not read the fine print of the petition.  Even if true, how can the American people trust a senior White House official that is so cavalier in his association with such radical and repugnant sentiments?

 

            Unfortunately, this episode is just the latest in a pattern of Mr. Jones’ incendiary remarks that only divide Americans and make positive change for the future more difficult.  Earlier this year in a speech in Berkeley, California on energy, Mr. Jones referred to Republicans in crude scatological words unfit for print.  Last year, Mr. Jones in a radio interview stated his goals as a “complete revolution” to “transform the whole society” away from capitalism.  These recent comments remove the credibility of his assertions that his past radical statements and actions such as the creation of the group Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement (STORM) rooted in Marxism and Leninism merely reflect youthful sentiments in the distant past. 

 

            Despite Mr. Jones’ continuing erratic and outrageous behavior, he occupies a senior “czar” position in the White House.  He obtained this position without U.S. Senate advice and consent and without oversight of his activities.  And yet, Mr. Jones is responsible for directing administration policy and spending on tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer funding regarding environmental policy and green jobs programs.  Many hold out the prospect of green jobs as one of the few practical benefits of pending cap and trade legislation in the face of groups such as the National Black Chamber of Commerce which predict that such legislation will destroy over 2.5 million net jobs, even after the creation of potential new green jobs. 

 

            While I am skeptical of the ability of green jobs programs to provide meaningful numbers of new jobs without heavy continuing taxpayer subsidies or mandates that destroy millions of traditional jobs, I hope you agree that we cannot risk whatever new green jobs are in our nation’s future to unsound and unpredictable leadership.  

 

            Refusal to conduct an oversight hearing by the Subcommittee would heighten concern over whether this administration is committed to mainstream, inclusive, positive leadership and policies.  While we may differ in our policy prescriptions to protect the environment and spur job creation, I hope you will agree that the Senate and our Subcommittee have a responsibility to ensure that administration stewards of taxpayer funds and government policy are capable of the jobs entrusted to them. 

 

            I look forward to your consideration and response to this request.  Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Christopher S. Bond

U.S. Senator