Lawmakers Bash U.S. IMF Representative By Adam Entous WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Members of a congressional panel Tuesday accused Washington's representative at the International Monetary Fund of flouting U.S. law and a senior Treasury official said backers of the IMF were losing ground. The Treasury official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters he doubted Congress would approve an administration request to provide $18 billion of new funds for the IMF. "As far as we can tell, it's very bleak," the official said, when asked about the legislation's prospects in the House. But he said lawmakers might approve one small part of the funding package. The package, designed to replenish reserves drained by three multibillion-dollar Asian rescue deals, has been approved by the Senate, but it faces stiff opposition in the House. Rep. Bernard Sanders, an independent from Vermont, said Karin Lissakers, U.S. executive director to the IMF, had failed to push for human and labor rights at the international agency, and he said this violated U.S. law. "You have not obeyed the law of the land," Sanders told Lissakers at a House Banking Oversight Subcommittee hearing. "The director is not using her vote to accomplish the goals that the Congress has set out for you," added Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat from Ohio. Lissakers and Assistant Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the United States was using its "voice and vote" at the IMF to increase transparency and respond to Congressional criticism. "We have made enormous strides," Lissakers told the panel. But the attacks in Congress have hurt the IMF, and damaged White House efforts to secure $18 billion in new funds. Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, the pro-IMF chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the package was in trouble in the House. "I'm very frustrated," he said, adding that he was "not hopeful" the House would move quickly. "I don't think the House is hearing from the business community," Stevens said. Business groups have been lobbying lawmakers to support the IMF. During Tuesday's acrimonious inquisition of Lissakers and Geithner, subcommittee chairman, Alabama Republican Rep. Spencer Bachus, said the IMF was too secretive despite U.S. efforts to increase transparency. "The IMF should not be permitted to operate like a private club with public money," he said. Sanders accused both Lissakers and the IMF management of ignoring Indonesian President Suharto's record on human rights abuses and a history of corruption when she backed a $40 billion IMF-led rescue package for Indonesia. House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Monday that lawmakers were becoming increasingly skeptical about giving the big international lending institution additional funds. "It's weaker now than it was six weeks ago -- dramatically weaker. There are more good arguments for not doing it," Gingrich said. -Warren G, DRU Hill, Graham Bonnet, Boyz List, Boston Kickout, Areosmith,Shawn Colvin, FireHouse, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Toni Braxton, Kenny G, Mark Owen, Donna Lewis, Scolpions, Gloria Estefan, REm, Suede, Enya, Take That...n' HUFSan