[Source: House Appropriations AGE DOESN'T INVESTIGATE

Q. Were you aware that the Office of Government Ethics does not conduct investigations; that in fact it relies on investigations of the facts that the agency in question conducts?

A.

Yes, I was aware of that, and I did not ask OGE to conduct an
investigation.

[Source Hoan Appropriations Followup]

Q.

A.

ASKING OGE MEANS WH INVESTIGATES?

Did you know that by asking OGE to investigate this matter the result would be that OGE would review an investigation conducted by the White House?

In fact, that is not what will happen. I asked the OGE to review the application of the ethics rules to the activities of Treasury officials, and I committed Treasury staff to fully cooperate with OGE in its work. The White House will not be responsible for developing any additional factual information that OGB needs to conduct that review. I understand OGE will use information developed by Treasury's IG to the extent that is necessary to supplement information the Independent Counsel develops.

[Source: House Appropriations Followup]

Q.

LEACH LETTER: BENTSEN KNOWLEDGE?

Did you discuss with Mr. Altman the Department's (Jean Hanson's) response to Congressman Leach's letter of February 3, 1994 suggesting that Mr. Altman recuse himself from Madison matters?

A.

????

MARCH 18 DRAFT

52

(Source: House Appropriations Followup]

BENTSEN KNOW: ALTMAN AGAINST S.O.L. EXTENSION?

Q. Were you aware that Mr. Altman wrote a letter last year recommending against extending the statute of limitation on civil claims against S&L wrongdoers, and did you approve of it?

A.

I probably became aware of Mr. Altman's letter after it was sent. In any case, the letter reflected a position with which I agreed. That position was not to oppose an extension. As you may recall, before the Administration submitted its bill, the GAO came out with a report that concluded that no claims had been lost because of the statute of limitations. For that reason, we didn't see a need to include an extension in our bill. However, we did not actively oppose those who held the opposite view.

Q.

A.

SENATOR BENTSEN VOTE ON S.O.L

Isn't it true that you voted for an extension of the statute of limitations when you were in the Senate, and, if so, why didn't you support it as Treasury Secretary?

Yes, I did vote for an extension as a Scnator. Like many other Senators,
I had strong reservations about extending the statute of limitations for
claims of simple negligence. However, the GAO later reported that no
claims had been lost because of the statute of limitations. With that
report, we didn't see a need to include an extension in the Administration's
bill, although we didn't fight those who wanted one.