Matsui in hot seat over Smithsonian

WASHINGTON -- It's unusual for House members to testify before Senate committees.

But Sacramento Rep. Doris Matsui's appearance before the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, headed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, was all the more so Tuesday as the two California Democrats found themselves grappling from different perspectives over the fate of one of the country's most cherished public assets, the Smithsonian Institution.

Matsui was appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Smithsonian's governing board of regents in January, just before an ethics meltdown toppled the head of the prestigious museum complex that draws millions of visitors annually to the National Mall.

On Tuesday, Matsui was one of six witnesses before Feinstein's committee as it delved into an independent review committee's scathing report laying much of the blame for the lavish ways of former Secretary Lawrence Small to the inattention of the 17-member board.

"Unfortunately, it appears that the former secretary was able to take advantage of weak oversight by the Smithsonian Board of Regents," Feinstein said. Feinstein dispensed with the usual courtesy of warmly greeting her home state colleague.

Small resigned in March, accused of lavish misspending and frequent absences. The No. 2 person at the institution, Deputy Secretary Sheila P. Burke, will leave in September.

Feinstein said the two departures leave a huge void at the top of the revered institution that's in a state of crisis because of the ethical lapses by top officials at the same time it faces a $2.5 billion shortfall in maintenance funds.

Matsui presented herself as part of the solution, saying that within two months of her appointment to the board -- she is one of six congressional members on it -- she was assigned to a five-member governance committee formed to set right the institution's wayward policies.

"It's almost like bringing the Smithsonian into the 21st century," Matsui said after the hearing.

Still, huge problems remain -- as well as much apprehension and skepticism. Feinstein questioned whether the Smithsonian was moving fast enough to fill the top positions and whether the regents will meet often enough to keep ahead of developments.

In an interview after the hearing, Matsui said she was unaware of the problems at the Smithsonian when she was appointed to the board of regents.

Among the governance committee's recommendations, many of which have already been adopted, are uniform policies on executive pay and prohibitions on senior executives serving on corporate boards.

"Let me emphasize that these recommendations are just the beginning of a long and involved reform process at the Smithsonian," Matsui told the panel.

After the hearing, Matsui said the board deserved the criticism it has received.

"We know now we have to move forward," she said. "We are going to do far more things better. I think our 25 recommendations will change the Smithsonian and improve it."

Feinstein didn't seem so optimistic. She raised questions about whether the changes were deep enough, whether new leadership would come soon enough and whether the Smithsonian could close the huge funding gap, which she described as a "danger signal."

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• The Bee's David Whitney can be reached at (202) 383-0004 or dwhitney@mcclatchydc.com.