Capitol Briefs: Gonzalez Keeps Up Attacks on the Fed

Former House Banking Committee chairman Henry B. Gonzalez may be a member of the minority party these days. But that hasn't stopped him from continuing to attack the Federal Reserve Board.

The latest volley came March 30, when the Texas Democrat criticized the Fed for refusing to release documents on the check transport system. The Fed would not turn over the items because the congressman had not specifically requested them in writing, Rep. Gonzalez said.

"Such an unreasonable position only tends to delay and offend an otherwise proper request for information," Rep. Gonzalez wrote in a March 30 letter to Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan. "These types of obstructionist tactics do not serve any useful purpose and are in fact counterproductive. I sincerely hope that such an incident does not reoccur."

Rep. Gonzalez wrote that he wants to avoid further problems by requesting access to "any document or information" his staff deems relevant.

"I consider such a blanket request entirely appropriate," he said.

Fed spokesman Joseph Coyne declined to comment.

Rep. Gonzalez has waged a one-man war against the Fed's check transportation system since last summer. He is investigating allegations that the Fed awarded courier contracts without competitive bidding. Also, he has probed labor troubles with a courier company the Fed uses.