By Alabama Public Radio
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Richard Shelby says President Bush's support for a national intelligence director is mostly welcome news. But the Republican senator says the new director must have budgetary power over other intelligence agencies. That's a step the President has so far refused to take. Shelby formerly headed the Senate Intelligence Committee. He made the comments while in Washington, D.C. for a hearing to consider the recommendations made by the September 11th Commission. One of the commission's most significant suggestions was the creation of an intelligence czar to ensure that the nation's 15 spy agencies are coordinated and communicate effectively. Shelby says he has supported such an idea for years.