Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 23, 1990 TAG: 9006230072
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Bush said at a gathering of U.S. attorneys that he would ask Congress to double the $50 million spent this year on investigation and prosecution of thrift-industry cases and would seek changes in the law to make cases easier to win, such as permitting the use of court-ordered wiretaps.
"We will not rest until the cheats and the chiselers and the charlatans spend a large chunk of their lives behind the bars of a federal prison," Bush declared.
The president also announced a series of steps to streamline the enforcement effort, including creation of "rapid response teams" of "razor-sharp prosecutors and auditors . . . striking city by city" while the paper trail is still warm.
"You ain't seen nothing yet," said Attorney General Dick Thornburgh, who Bush directed in 1989 to make prosecution of the S&L cases his top priority.
But Bush could not quash the mounting criticism on Capitol Hill from lawmakers who say that even this latest request for new resources is not enough.
"He is still a step behind," said Eric Hauser, spokesman for Rep. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of a House subcommittee that has been monitoring the savings-and-loan prosecutions. "He's finally asked for $100 million, but the House has already decided to give him $110 million."
Congress authorized $75 million for additional manpower to aid in the savings-and-loan prosecutions this year, but the administration is only spending about $50 million.
Administration officials point out Congress never acted on Bush's original request, in March 1989, for $36.8 million to get the program launched.
While claiming "an aggressive attitude" that already has led to 150 convictions and $100 million in restitution, Bush contended, "We could have been moving even faster" if the starter money had not been delayed.
by CNB