\\l\\ NAM! AND EXPANDED AUTHORITY FOR THE COMMITTE] 729 



"we continue to experience difficulties in bringing new staffmembers 



on board." He contended: 



Last year when I appeared before this committee, I testified that a ratable por- 

 tion of the new investigative personnel four professionals and a proportionate 

 number of clerical personnel would be coming to the minority. This has not hap- 

 pened to date. In fact, we are led to understand that the minority will be allotted 

 onl) the minimum number of personnel under the House Rules, and even those people 

 have been hard to come by. * * * The minority intends to continue to press for an 

 equitable share of the committee staff allocations. 



Both Teague and Wydler refused to budge. Wydler felt that the 

 statutory minimum of 12 professional and 4 clerical employees was 

 all right for a starter, but that as the total committee staff expanded, 

 so should the minority staff. When the traditional one-third allocated 

 by the congressional reforms of 1974 had slipped proportionately down 

 to less than one-fifth, the minority felt it was time to stand up and 

 fight. Aided by several minority members of the House Administra- 

 tion Committee, Wydler maneuvered to have the Science Committee's 

 funding resolution tabled until the minority staffing issue was resolved. 



Teague's philosophy was expressed in an April 19 letter to Chair- 

 man Thompson of the House Administration Committee: 



The size of our staff is determined by an analysis of requirements and skills as 

 well as the availability of funds to defray related expense. Is it your Committee's 

 position that we should hire staff regardless of need? Mr. Wydler seems to believe that 

 he is entitled to sixteen minority staff members whether or not warranted by the 

 Committee's needs. * * * The staff of the Committee on Science and Technology, in 

 my mind, has never been selected on a partisan basis. Except for one professional staff 

 member, Charlie Mosher, I do not know the party affiliation of any of our 83 staff 

 members; nor am I concerned. Our recruiting system, in my opinion, is second to 

 none on Capitol Hill and is based upon qualifications. Selection of personnel is carried 

 out on a competitive basis. We are a research and development oriented Committee 

 and the subject matter under our jurisdiction does not lend itself to partisan politics. 



As happens in most confrontations, each side gave a little and Wydler 

 released the funding resolution he had been holding hostage. Despite 

 the tone of the letters, and the occasional angry verbal outbursts, 

 Teague and Wydler remained good friends who were able to work out 

 the problem so the business of the committee could move forward. 



SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN'S STAFF 



Although the issue of minority staffing received more attention, 

 there was an analogous situation with respect to designation of one 

 staff member by subcommittee chairmen. In the eyes of Brooks, Miller, 

 and Teague, such a choice would weaken the control of the chairman 

 over coordinated policies within the committee. For a subcommittee 

 chairman, this meant an opportunity to get a competent and qualified 

 person who would make the work of his subcommittee more meaning- 

 ful and effective 



