N002416
November 28, 2001
The Honorable Kenneth Feinberg
Civil Division
Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington 20530
Dear Mr. Feinberg:
Congratulations on your appointment to run the federal compensation fund.
Attorney General Ashcroft picked the right man for the job.
We write to support you in any way we can in deciding how, under federal law, to
distribute the $11 billion dollar victim compensation fund. For your information,
Common Cause had been working with New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer on
issues related to public oversight and input on the millions of dollars of money that
charities have raised for the victims of September 11 and the aftermath.
Given the sweeping powers that your office will have to draft the fund's rules
and procedures, oversee the operations, and to personally sign off on all the awards made
to claimants, it is important that every effort is made to ensure that citizens do not
perceive that any of the funds are wasted or mismanaged. Moreover, fairness to all
victims, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status, must be assured.
Simply stated, the American public must be secure in the knowledge that taxpayer
dollars are being used for the purposes for which they were intended.
Because of the oversight responsibilities, which you have, you are in a position to
ensure that the public has confidence in the governmental entity responsible for
overseeing the funds.
In light of the extraordinary circumstances and because the amount of money is
unprecedented, we urge you to continue to review the hundreds of written public
comments about the fund and meet with victims rights groups, plaintiffs lawyers and
officials from leading charities
We also recommend that you consider establishing a citizens' commission or
advisory board that would assist you in fulfilling your oversight role. Such a
commission - made up of publicly respected individuals of recognized high ethical
standards - would help increase public confidence that these funds are being used in the
public and common good, not siphoned off for questionable or unintended uses. It would
also assure the public that an appropriate authority is exercising legal oversight over this
unprecedented situation.
As a former Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the
head of a non-profit advocacy group that has 30 years experience in dealing with public
input and citizen advocacy, I know how difficult it is to assume and play a leadership role
in complicated and emotionally charged matters. However, as you know, it is vitally
important to take constructive action to guard against public cynicism and
disillusionment.
Common Cause stands ready to assist you in any way we can.
Sincerely,
Comment by:
Common Cause
Washington, DC