Bush Threatens Veto of McCaskill IG Overhaul

President Bush is threatening to veto a House bill that would overhaul the Inspector General system by giving IGs seven-year term limits, require them to submit annual budgets to Congress, and permit the White House to fire them only for criminal actions.

A similar bill is backed by Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill in the U.S. Senate.

"The administration strongly objects to this intrusion on the president’s removal authority and his ability to hold IGs accountable for their performance,” a White House statement said. “The administration also strongly opposes provisions that would authorize IGs to circumvent the president’s long-standing, and constitutionally based, control.”