Proposals for a congressional commission on the financial crisis: A comparative analysis

Global Financial Crisis

Volumn , Issue , 2010, Pages 91-125

  Glassman, Matthew Eric ^a   Straus, Jacob R ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 84895358690     PISSN: None     EISSN: None     Source Type: Book    
DOI: None     Document Type: Chapter

References (121)

1. For general information on congressional advisory commissions, please see CRS Report R40076, Congressional Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Legislative Considerations, by Matthew Eric Glassman.
2. Proposals for committee or subcommittee investigations, select committee investigations, joint committee investigations, and executive branch investigations are not addressed in this chapter. Similarly, proposals for congressional commissions with narrower scopes (such as H.R. 1285, which proposes a commission to investigate mortgage foreclosures) are not considered here.
3. Senate Amendment 995 to S. 386, agreed to 92-4 on 4/24/09. Future references in the text will refer to S. 386.
4. S. 195, 111th Congress.
5. S. 298, 111th Congress.
6. H.R. 74, 111th Congress.
7. H.R. 768, 111th Congress.
8. H.R. 2111, 111th Congress.
9. Two potential analogous entities are the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, P.L. 110-181, § 841, 122 Stat. 230 (2008), and the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, P.L. 107-306, 116 Stat. 2408 (2002). 10 S. 195 § 5(b); S. 386 § 5(b); H.R. 74 § 4(a); H.R. 768 § 4(a); S. 298 § 3(a); H.R. 2111 § 2(d)(1).
10. A database search of a variety of relevant terms was conducted using the Legislative Information System (LIS) for the 101st through 110th Congresses (1989-2008) to capture all congressional commissions enacted into law. The universe of data included all temporary multi-member independent entities that (1) existed temporarily, (2) were statutorily created, (3) served in an advisory capacity, (4) were appointed in part or whole by Members of Congress, and (5) reported to Congress.
11. S. 386 § 5(b).
12. H.R. 74 § 4(b)(3); S. 298 § 3(b).
13. H.R. 74 § 4(b)(2). It is likely that such a prohibition would preclude academic employees of state colleges or universities from serving on the commission.
14. H.R. 768 § 4(b).
15. S. 195 § 5(c).
16. S. 195 § 5(h)(1); S. 386 § 5(f)(1); H.R. 74 § 9(a); H.R. 768 § 4(g)(1); S. 298 § 7(a). During 2009, level IV of the Executive schedule is $153,200. Assuming an 8-hour work day, the daily equivalent rate would be $587 per day per member. See Executive Order 13483, "Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay," 73 Fed. Reg. 78587, Dec. 23, 2008; 5 U.S.C. 5504 (2000).
17. H.R. 2111 § 2(d)(2). During 2009, level I of the Executive schedule is $196,700. Assuming an 8-hour work day, the daily equivalent rate would be $754 per day per member. See Executive Order 13483, "Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay," 73 Fed. Reg. 78587, Dec. 23, 2008; 5 U.S.C. 5504 (2000).
18. H.R. 768 § 4(g)(2); H.R. 2111 § 2(d)(3).
19. S. 195 § 5(h)(2).
20. H.R. 74 § 9(b); H.R. 768 § 4(h); S. 195 § 5(i); S. 298 § 7(b); S. 386 § 5(f)(2).
21. An analysis of 83 congressional advisory bodies created during the past 20 years indicates that approximately two-thirds (57) did not compensate their members, except to reimburse members for expenses directly related to their service, such as travel costs. Among those that did compensate their members (26), almost all provided that the level of compensation would be the daily equivalent of Level IV of the Executive Schedule.
22. H.R. 74 § 4(b)(1).
23. The use of formal partisan membership structures is somewhat more common in executive branch regulatory commissions.
24. H.R. 74 § 4(a); S. 195 § 5(b).S. 298 § 3(a).
25. S. 386 § 5(b).
26. H.R. 768 § 4(a); S. 386 § 5(b). Many congressionally established advisory entities, including those designed for oversight of the executive branch, provide for an appointment structure that includes presidential or other executive branch input. For example, see the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
27. H.R. 768 § 4(a); S. 386 § 5(b).
28. H.R. 2111 § 2(d)(1)(A)-(E).
29. S. 195 § 5(b).
30. H.R. 74 § 4(a).
31. S. 298 § 3(a). The non-presidential executive branch appointment would be made by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
32. H.R. 74 § 4(c); H.R. 768 § 4(d); S. 195 § 5(c)(6); S. 298 § 3(e); S. 386 § 5(b)(5).
33. S. 195 § 5(b)(4).
34. H.R. 74 § 4(f); H.R. 768 § 4(b)(4).
35. S. 298 and S. 386, however, provide for a provisional initial organizing meeting of the commission if four of the members have been appointed. S. 298 § 3(d); S. 386 § 5(b)(4).
36. P.L. 107-273, 116 Stat. 1758, (2002).
37. For example, the statute authorizing the National Gambling Impact Study Commission provides that the Commission may establish by majority vote any other rules for the conduct of the Commission's business, if such rules are not inconsistent with this act or other applicable law. See P.L. 104-169, 110 Stat. 1482 (1996).
38. S. 195 § 5(c)(7).
39. H.R. 768 § 4(e).
40. S. 386 § 5(b)(3).
41. S. 298 § 3(c).
42. H.R. 74 § 4(a)(1), 4(a)(2).
43. S. 195 § 5(b)(1)-(2).
44. H.R. 2111 § 2(d)(7); H.R. 2111 § 2(f)(3).
45. S. 195 § 5(c)(5).
46. H.R. 768 § 4(k).
47. H.R. 74 § 4(b)(5).
48. S. 298 § 3(d); S. 386 § 5(b)(4).
49. H.R. 768 § 4(j).
50. H.R. 74 § 4(c); S. 195 § 5(c)(6); S. 386 § 5(b)(5).
51. S. 298 § 3(3).
52. H.R. 2111 § 2(d)(5).
53. H.R. 768 § 4(j); H.R. 2111 § 2(d)(5).
54. H.R. 74 § 7(b)-(c).
55. See P.L. 103-698, 114 Stat. 1654A-334 (2000).
56. United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Commission Rules, adopted June 6, 2003.
57. Id. Rule 19.
58. United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Procedures and Responsibilities of Hearing Cochairs.
59. P.L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1470 ( 2005).
60. Interview with Susan Binder, former Executive Director, National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission, July 10, 2008.
61. Interview with Douglas Grob, Staff Director, July 10, 2008.
62. P.L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1962 (2005).
63. Interview with Jack Wells, staff director, July 10, 2008.
64. For more information on the Federal Advisory Committee Act, see CRS Report R40520, Federal Advisory Committees: An Overview, by Wendy R. Ginsberg.
65. H.R. 74 § 7(a).
66. H.R. 768 § 4(a), 3(b); H.R. 2111 § 2(d)(2).
67. S. 195 § 5(f). Although the reporting provisions of S. 195 require the commission only to report to Congress, under its listed "purposes" in section (a)(5), the commission is broadly asked to "Report to the President and Congress."
68. S. 298 § 2, 3(a).
69. H.R. 74 § 5(a); H.R. 768 § 3(a); S. 298 § 4.
70. H.R. 768 § 4(c).
71. S. 298 § 4(4); S. 386 § 5(c)(4).
72. S. 386 § 5(g)(3).
73. H.R. 74 § 5(a)(3); H.R. 768 § 3(b); S. 195 § 5(f)(1); S. 386 § 5(f)(1); S. 298 § 8(a).
74. S. 195 § 5(f).
75. H.R. 2111 § 2(c)(2)-(4).
76. H.R. 74 § 11(c)-(d).
77. H.R. 74 § 11(a); S. 298 § 8(b). It is unclear whether the commission would need the same amount of staff, money, and resources during the continued review period.
78. For example, see National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education, P.L. 105-18, 111 Stat. 207 (1997); Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, P.L. 110-53, 121 Stat. 501 (2007).
79. For example, see the proposed Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action, S. 2063, 110th Congress, which would require a 3/4 approval of the commission for the adoption of the final report.
80. For example, see Human Spaceflight Independent Investigation Commission, P.L. 109-155, 119 Stat. 2941(2005).
81. S. 195 § 5(f); H.R. 74 § 11(b); H.R. 2111 § 2(c)(2)(C).
82. S. 298 § 8(a).
83. S. 386 § 5(g)(1).
84. H.R. 768 § 7.
85. See, e.g., The National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education, P.L. 105-18, 111 Stat. 207 (1997) and the Antitrust Modernization Commission, P.L. 107-273, 116 Stat. 1856 (2002).
86. H.R. 74 § 11(b); S. 298 § 8(a); S. 386 § 5(g)(1) .
87. H.R. 768 § 3(b); S. 195 § 5(f); H.R. 2111 § 2(c)(2)(C).
88. S. 195 § 5(k); S. 298 § 8(c); S. 386 § 5(h).
89. H.R. 768 § 8.
90. H.R. 2111 § 2(g).
91. H.R. 74 § 1 1(c)-(d). It is unclear whether the commission would need the same amount of staff, money, and resources during the continued review period.
92. For example, see H.R. 768 § 6(b), which states that "Any member or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to take by this section." See also S. 298 § 5(h); H.R. 2111 § 2(f)(2).
93. For example, see H.R. 74 § 6(a)(2)(i)(I), which authorizes the issuance of subpoenas "by agreement of the chairman and vice-chairman."
94. H.R. 74 § 6(a)(1); H.R. 768 § 6(a); H.R. 2111 § 2(f)(1); S. 195§ 5(d)(1); S. 298 § 5(a); S. 386 § 5(d)(1)(A).
95. H.R. 74 § 6(a)(2); S. 195 § 5(d)(1)-(2); S. 298 § 5(a)(1)-(2); S. 386 § 5(d)(1)(B).
96. H.R. 74 § 6(a)(2)(A)(i); S. 195 § 5(d)(2).
97. H.R. 2111 § 2(f)(4).
98. S. 298 § 5(a)(2).
99. H.R. 74 § 6(a)(2)(B); S. 195 § 5(d)(2); S. 298 § 5(b)(2); S. 386 § 5(d)(2)(B).
100. H.R. 74 § 6(d)(1); H.R. 768 § 6(e)(1); S. 195 § 5(g).
101. H.R. 768 § 6(e)(2); S. 195 § 5(d)(5).
102. S. 298 § 5(e).
103. H.R. 74 § 6(c); H.R. 768 § 6(c); H.R. 2111 § 2(f)(3); S. 195 § 5(d)(4); S. 298 § 5(d); S. 386 § 5(d)(4).
104. H.R. 74 § 6(f); H.R. 768 § 6(d); S. 195 § 5(d)(7) S. 298 § 5(g); S. 386 § 5(d)(7).
105. H.R. 74 § 6(b); S. 195 § 5(d)(3); S. 298 § 5(c); S. 386 § 5(d)(3).
106. H.R. 74 § 6(e); S. 195 § 5(d)(6)); S. 298 § 5(f); S. 386 § 5(d)(7).
107. H.R. 74 § 8(a)(1); H.R. 768 § 8(b)-(c); S. 195 § 5(j)(1); S. 298 § 5(b); S. 386 § 5(e)(3). H.R. 2111 only specifies that "the commission may appoint and fix the pay of any personnel as the Commission considers appropriate." H.R. 2111 § 2(e)(1).
108. H.R. 768 § 8(a); S. 298 § 6(a); S. 386 § 5(e)(1).
109. H.R. 74 § 8(a)(1); S. 195 § 5(j)(1).
110. H.R. 74 § 8(a)(2); S. 195 § 5(j)(2); S. 298 § 6(c).
111. H.R. 74 § 8(b); H.R. 768 § 5(d); S. 195 § 5(j)(2)(B); S. 298 § 6(d); S. 386 § 5(e)(4).
112. H.R. 2111 § 2(e)(3).
113. H.R. 74 § 8(e); S. 195 § 5(j)(2)(C); S. 298 § 6(e); S. 386 § 5(e)(5).
114. H.R. 2111 § 2(e)(2).
115. H.R. 74 § 10(a).
116. H.R. 74 § 12(a); H.R. 768 § 9; S. 195 § 5(l).
117. H.R. 74 § 12(b); S. 195 § 5(l).
118. S. 298 § 5(e)(1).
119. S. 386 § 5(d)(5).
120. For example, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States received a total of $15 million in three separate appropriations: an initial $3 million reprogrammed from the National Foreign Intelligence Program and subsequent appropriations of $11 million and $1 million. See Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2003, P.L. 107-306, 116 Stat. 2383 (2002); Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, P.L. 108-11, 117 Stat. 591 (2003); Extension of National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, P.L. 108-207, 118 Stat. 556 (2004).
121. National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, "How Many People Serve on the Commission Staff?" at http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/about/faq.htm#q4, visited April 20, 2009.