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Washington, D.C.—The leader of the nation’s largest independent federal union today reacted sharply to proposed legislation that would create one or more commissions to study the effectiveness of federal programs while bypassing Congress.

President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) said the bottom line to the proposals advanced by Republican members of the House and Senate today is that they “would limit the right and ability of Congress to review, debate and amend reorganization proposals” in a manner similar to the defense base closing process now in use.

Under that process, a commission recommends facilities to be closed or consolidated, and Congress must accept or reject the findings in their entirety.

“If the president wants to reorganize or eliminate programs,” Kelley said, “he can currently send such legislation to Congress, where both the House and Senate are controlled by his party. There is no reason to limit congressional authority on these matters.”

The Republican members of Congress who plan to introduce bills on this matter—Reps. Tom Davis (VA), Kevin Brady (TX) and Jon Porter (NV) and Sen. Craig Thomas (WY)—are following up on a recommendation in the administration’s fiscal 2006 budget.

Kelley criticized the administration’s proposal at that time, and said she sees no reason to change her mind. “If they want to ‘sunset’ government programs,” she said, “let them do it through the regular legislative process.”

As the largest independent federal union, NTEU represents some 150,000 employees in 30 agencies and departments.