Daschle: Senate May Subpoena Ridge

WASHINGTON - The Senate is considering subpoenaing homeland security chief Tom Ridge to compel his testimony about President Bush (news - web sites)'s domestic security spending request, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said Sunday.


Daschle said he would like the White House to drop its opposition to Ridge's appearance. A Bush spokesman expressed hope for a "satisfactory resolution" that would get lawmakers the necessary information.

"We've got to find a way to break the impasse. He's got to work with us. There is just too much at stake," said Daschle, D-S.D. "Coercion is not ever my first choice."

A subpoena "is an option, clearly," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "We want to look at all of the options at this point. But we're hoping it is not a necessary one. We are still hoping that they will have a change of heart."