New Year's Resolutions: Better Late Than Never

Washington, DC - January 9, 2006

For most, the new year often conjures up thoughts of fresh starts and new beginnings. But recent actions by the Bush administration demonstrate just the opposite. The administration has begun 2006 with a continuation of past bad behavior by steamrolling the U.S. Senate and ignoring civil society input in discussions regarding major U.S. policy decisions.

Last week, President Bush bypassed the Senate approval process and appointed 17 nominees to administration posts during the Senate’s holiday break. Among those appointed was Ellen Sauerbrey as Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration. Sauerbrey’s recess appointment in particular demonstrates President Bush’s total lack of respect for the Senate, as her nomination had been under intense scrutiny by members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), including PAI, and the media.

Along similar lines, the Bush administration continues to disregard civil society’s role in shaping U.S. foreign assistance. Despite NGOs’ expertise and crucial role in effectively delivering U.S. foreign assistance, the administration recently brushed off requests from NGOs to join the discussion on ways to improve aid effectiveness and possibly reorganize U.S. foreign assistance delivery.

These most recent actions suggest that it is “business as usual” in the new year for this administration. In the interest of greater consensus and fewer partisan battles in 2006, PAI urges the administration to listen to the expertise of NGOs and allow the Senate to do its job. New Year’s resolutions are better late than never.

 

 

Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.