Departures leave leadership vacuum

One of the most disturbing trends in Washington has beenthe contentious, overly partisan environment in whichtoo many congressional hearings seem more focused onassessing blame than finding solutions. Against thatbackdrop, the departure of Comptroller General David Walker,who led the Government Accountability Office, and the decision byRep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) to not seek re-election, loom large.The ubiquitous, always-direct and sometimes-controversial Walker has been a voicefor rational thought and careful analysis.Under his leadership, GAO has increasinglybecome a source of solutions and support tofederal agencies.When I served under Walker's chairmanshipon the Commercial Activities Panel, Isaw firsthand how thoughtful, strong leadershipcould work effectively with widelydisparate interests to reach at least a modicumof consensus. When we testifiedtogether, as we did at a 2007 Senate hearingon federal acquisition, Walker was a consistentvoice for balance and reason. He didnot hesitate to delineate the challenges thegovernment faces in acquisition ? particularlyin terms of developing and empoweringthe federal acquisition workforce ? orto make clear the need to hold companiesand the government accountable for theiractions.Walker also emphasized that the vastmajority of contractors perform well andhonestly on behalf of their government customers.In doing so, he reminded everyoneof the need to go beyond the headlines anddig deeper to find and implement solutionsthat will lead to real improvement. Oneneed not have always agreed with his positions,but one could rarelyquestion the level ofthought or analysis thatwent into them.Similarly, Davis has beena voice of reason. Althoughsome have referred to himas a champion for governmentcontractors, the truthis that he has been a championfor balance. He has demonstrated theincreasingly rare ability and willingness towork effectively across party lines and ideologies.He also has continually shown awillingness to immerse himself in sometimesarcane yet important issues to a levelfew in Congress can match. At the sametime, he never hesitated to challenge anyone? including his congressional colleagues ineither party ? when he felt their analyses orproposals were lacking intellectual rigor.A passionate defender of federal employeesand their interests, Davis also vigorouslysought to ensure the government acquisitionprocess is accountable and able to facilitateefficient delivery of services to the taxpayer.For a decade he has been the most effectiveleader in Congress on issues associatedwith improving the federal government'suse of and access to information technology,including attracting technologyworkers to government ? and keepingthem once they're there. Further, likeWalker, he has been a leader on initiativesto provide much expanded trainingand resources to the federal acquisitionworkforce.Leaders like Walker and Davis areincreasingly in short supply. At a timewhen the public is clearly distressed aboutthe mood and political climatein Washington and increasinglyskeptical about their government'sability to solve importantproblems, the need for leaderslike Walker and Davis has neverbeen greater. Although Walker,as head of the new Peter G.Peterson Foundation, will continuehis impassioned crusadefor budgetary reform to address what he callsthe government's structural deficit, and Daviswill likely not stray far from the public arena,their presence on Capitol Hill will be sorelymissed.