Obama Seeking Authority to Combine Agencies

(Newsroom America) -- President Obama will seek congressional authority to combine some federal agencies in an attempt to increase productivity and reduce duplication of services and functions, part of a promise he made nearly a year ago during his last State of the Union address.

The Associated Press, quoting sources familiar with the plan, said Obama will seek a type of reorganization power last held by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.

"The Obama version would be a so-called consolidation authority allowing him to propose mergers that promise to save money and help consumers. The deal would entitle him to an up-or-down vote from Congress in 90 days," AP reported.

Congress would first have to decide whether to grant the authority, then later vote on whether to approve any changes.

The president planned to discuss his vision for reforming government Friday morning, AP reported, quoting officials familiar with the proposal.

Politically, the president is trying to show voters he is serious about scaling down Washington's web of bureaucracy while at the same time putting Republicans in the position of having little choice but to approve his measures or explain why they are suddenly against leaner government.

If granted the authority he seeks, Obama's first order of business would be to combine six major operations of the federal government concerning business and trade.

"They are: the Commerce Department's core business and trade functions; the Small Business Administration; the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; the Export-Import Bank; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation; and the Trade and Development Agency," AP reported. "The goal would be one agency designed to help businesses thrive."

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