WASHINGTON -- President Bush will soon sign a bill to create a place for members of Congress to appeal if they believe federal agencies are classifying too much in the name of national security.
Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Trent Lott, R-Miss., pushed for the "Public Interest Declassification Board" after the Senate Intelligence Commitee wrestled with the CIA over how much of a scathing congressional report on the Iraq intelligence estimates could be made public.
The CIA initially classified half of the 500-page report. Eventually, 80 percent was released.
According to the legislation, the board will made up of nine national security experts -- five appointed by the White House and four appointed Congress' Republican and Democratic leaders
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