Refusing to testify former Asst. to President cancelled briefing after learning it would be on-the-record.
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. House Science Space and Technology Committee
Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) today officially noticed a meeting of the Oversight Subcommittee for Wednesday September 17 2014 to enable Oversight Subcommittee
Chairman Paul Broun (R-GA) to issue a subpoena to former U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park a top Assistant to President Obama during the launch of HealthCare.gov last November.
After refusing to testify before the Science Committee on multiple occasions without a subpoena Science Advisor to the President John Holdren offered for Mr. Park to brief the Oversight Subcommittee.
Mr. Park scheduled a briefing for Members of the Oversight Subcommittee on Wednesday September 10 2014 regarding his management and oversight of the HealthCare.gov website including security protocols.
However less than 24 hours in advance the White House cancelled the briefing because they did not want any official transcript of the discussion.
Chairman Smith: The White House has failed to provide this Committee with information about the security of the Obamacare website. This week the administration cancelled a briefing less than 24 hours in advance because they did not want it to be on-the-record.
What is the White House trying to hide? The Obama administration has a responsibility to ensure that the personal and financial data collected by the government is secure.
Last week
news reports revealed that a hacker successfully breached the Obamacare website in July. And we dont know how many other security breaches have gone unreported.
The American people deserve transparency and accountability for the security of their personal information on HealthCare.gov. That is why the Oversight Subcommittee next week will vote to subpoena this information compelling Mr. Park to testify under oath."
Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Broun: Since October 31st of last year the Committee has invited Todd Park on five occasions to testify at a hearing about his knowledge of the website HealthCare.gov. The Committee also made a comprehensive request of OSTP for relevant records.
To date OSTP has failed to comply with the Committees requests as Members have yet to question Mr. Park about HealthCare.gov nor have we received all responsive documents from OSTP as evidenced by those in the Committees possession from sources other than OSTP. OSTPs response to the Committee is intolerable and makes me question what other documents might be withheld not just from this Committee but from other congressional committees.
I appreciate Chairman Smiths willingness to enable the Oversight Subcommittee to move forward with a subpoena and I look forward to finally getting some answers from Mr. Park about HealthCare.gov."
Emails obtained by the Science Committee between Mr. Park and his colleagues appear to contradict his previous congressional testimony. The subpoena would require the White House to provide all documents and emails pertaining to Todd Parks involvement in development of the website. It will also oblige Mr. Park to appear before the Oversight Subcommittee to provide testimony under oath. Mr. Park who recently stepped down as Chief Technology Officer was the co-chair of the White Houses
Affordable Care Act Information Technology Exchanges Steering Committee a body responsible for overseeing security protocols during development of the HealthCare.gov website.
