Hasta La Gadget!

On Wednesday the Senate Finance Committee will hear from Jack Lew, the President’s pick as Treasury Secretary, who will succeed the controversial Tim Geithner if confirmed. While Lew wouldn’t be taking office during a grave systemic crisis the way Geithner did, it remains a crisis-driven job as long as millions of Americans continue to experience their own personal economic emergencies.

The Treasury Department’s website says that the Treasury Secretary serves as the “President’s principal economic advisor.” The Secretary is also the chief American representative to the International Monetary Fund and other international banks, serves as Board Chair and Chief Trustee for the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds, and has significant influence on Federal Reserve policy.

Republican Senators like Chuck Grassley may ask some excellent questions, but some of his colleagues are likely to be in attack mode. Here are eight lines of constructive Senators should pursue, along with some specific questions for each of them.

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