Political wrangle breaks out over Katrina inquiry

Doubts remained Friday about the future of a new House-Senate panel to probe failures in the relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, with a political storm brewing over its makeup and purpose.

“I think it’s unfortunate that this needed investigation … has degenerated into a partisan political issue,” said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who has been asked to head the joint committee, announced Wednesday by Republican leadership in the House and Senate.

Congressional Democrats have objected to the GOP-initiated panel, which was announced without consultation with Democratic leaders, who have since vowed not to appoint members to it in its current form.

Democrats have called for equal representation on the panel and have questioned whether a GOP-heavy committee would provide an honest assessment of problems with relief efforts to the Gulf Coast, in an effort to protect the Bush administration.

“Politics should not play any role in answering these questions,” 2nd District Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, said Friday. “We should have an independent, nonpartisan investigation to improve our response for future disasters.”

Republicans have vowed to move forward with the committee, and Collins on Friday denied any attempts to shut out minority Democrats. She predicted they would agree to participate after negotiations over the committee’s authority.

Although the formation of the joint House-Senate committee was designed in part to prevent multiple congressional investigations into the Katrina relief efforts, Collins and U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., have vowed to continue with their committee’s separate investigation into the post-hurricane response.

“We would be remiss if we didn’t,” said Collins, whose Senate committee has direct oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. That department includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has coordinated relief efforts.

The Senate committee has already begun its investigation, and will begin its hearings next week. Among those to testify, Collins said, is former California Gov. Pete Wilson, whose state has dealt with a number of major natural disasters including earthquakes, mudslides and wildfires.