WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Republican chairman of a special House panel investigating the government's response to Hurricane Katrina decided Wednesday to reject, at least for now, a proposal to subpoena the White House for documents detailing internal communications before and after the storm hit on Aug. 29.
But lawmakers agreed to subpoena the Pentagon for similar Katrina-related documents if Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld refuses to immediately turn them over or explain why he cannot. And the panel's chairman, Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., left open the possibility of subpoenaing the White House later.
''We cannot do our job if we don't get these documents, and we won't get these documents if we don't subpoena them,'' said Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La., who sought to get internal memos, e-mails, and other communications from the White House and the Pentagon.
Davis agreed the Pentagon so far had not fully cooperated with the investigation, and should be subpoenaed. He said an immediate legal push against the White House might be premature before lawmakers are briefed Thursday by top administration officials.................
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