Ridge Offers Senators an Audience, Little Else

Homeland security director Tom Ridge met with several senators on Capitol Hill in an attempt to explain why he believes that, as a personal advisor to President Bush, he has no obligation to formally testify before Congress.

The White House says Ridge should be treated like National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, who traditionally is immune from congressional testimony. That duty normally falls to Cabinet secretaries.

While not available for comment after the meeting, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) said last week that the pace of Congress’ work on next year’s defense bill might depend on what Ridge has to say about Bush’s domestic security spending request.