Camp says WH, Treasury stalling on Delphi documents

By Pete Kasperowicz - 10/04/12 12:49 PM ET

House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-Mich.) on Wednesday accused the Obama administration of slow-walking his request for documents related to the controversial Delphi pension decision, and gave officials until the end of next week to fulfill what he said is a "straightforward request."

Camp and other Republicans have been after Treasury for emails that reveal Treasury's involvement in the decision to terminate the pensions of 20,000 non-union workers at auto parts giant Delphi, but fully fund union pensions. That decision was made as part of the Obama administration's auto industry bailout.

While the Daily Caller received emails through a FOIA request indicating that Treasury was deeply involved in that decision, Camp has yet to receive anything close to that level of information in response to his request.

"Despite the Administration's early commitment to provide 'an unprecedented level of openness in Government,' the Department of Treasury's response of September 7, 2012, was incomplete and inadequate," Camp wrote in a letter to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner that he sent Wednesday.

"My request was straightforward, seeking documents that likely have already been collected pursuant to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and Delphi-related civil litigation," he added. "As you are aware, responses to Congressional requests are not limited by FOIA exemptions or common law privileges, thus all documents should have been produced without redaction or limitation."

He said emails already shown to his committee show that Treasury was "heavily involved" in the Delphi decision, including by commenting on draft settlement agreements. But Camp said that without full compliance from Treasury, "the full extent and propriety of Treasury's involvement is impossible to determine."

In addition to Geithner, Camp sent a similar letter to White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler. Both letters give officials until Oct. 12 to provide him with all emails and documents related to Delphi, but does not say what action Camp might take if that deadline is missed.