A top Senate Democrat said just because other presidents have created "czars" to carry out administration policy does not mean President Obama is right to follow their lead - and warned that Congress may have to step in and keep White House appointees in check.Senators say the arrangement goes against the Constitution because many czars are never vetted by Congress, even though they have a major role in making policy.
But there may be few options for reeling them in. Experts told Sen. Russ Feingold, the Wisconsin Democrat who convened a hearing on the issue, that the tools available are either to cut off funding for the positions or write laws to control how much authority Congress gives the president.
"While there is a long history of the use of White House advisers and czars, that does not mean we can assume they are constitutionally appropriate," said Mr. Feingold, chairman of the Judiciary Committee's Constitution subcommittee.