Several House Democrats Object To Closed Session

[Algorem]

Source: CBS

Several House Democrats Object To Closed Session
By Daniel W. Reilly

Mar 13, 2008


(The Politico) As the House prepared to enter into a rare closed session Thursday night to discuss controversial electronic surveillance legislation, several House Democrats voiced strong objections to the meeting, offering a rare public objection to a floor decision by House Democratic leadership.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said debating such an important issue behind closed doors “raises questions about the constitution of the U.S.” arguing that the House floor is “the citadel of free speech” and should not be closed to public view. Kucinich said he would not be attending the session.

"We are treading on very treacherous ground," said Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), arguing that the public should be shut out of the debate only if it is absolutely necessary.

House Republicans called for the session—which will be closed to the media and all but the highest level staff--to discuss classified information relating to an update to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Democratic leaders agreed to go along with the session earlier in the day...



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/13/politics/politico/thecrypt/main3937515.shtml

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House Debates, Holds Rare Secret Session

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/03/house-debates-h.html

By Ryan Singel EmailMarch 13, 2008 | 6:46:37 PMCategories: NSA, Sunshine and Secrecy, Surveillance

As Thursday night crawled toward midnight in Washington, D.C., the House of Representatives went into a secret session, whose first rule is "Don't talk about the secret session."

But prior to the secret session, House members spoke alot about the secret session.

For more than an hour they debated the nuances of a proposed secret session of the House that the Republicans wanted in order to share secret information about a secret wiretapping program that is being debated by Congress due to a secret ruling from a secret spying court about the legality of the President's secret spying program.

The House is scheduled to vote on legislation about spying and legal amnesty for partners in the president's secret wiretapping program tomorrow, though that vote was ostensibly scheduled for Thursday and could get postponed again...



March 13th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
FISA Debate To Go Into Secret Session, No FISA Vote Tonight

http://berniehund.com/2008/03/13/fisa-debate-to-go-into-secret-session-no-fisa-vote-tonight/

» by sinde in: Current Events, The Issues

The Secret Session was brought up by Representative Blount. Rep. Dennis Kucinich quizzed the the motion. When has specific legislation gone in secret preliminary to a vote? Rep. Kucinich pressed other representatives as to why there was a need for secrecy. In his twelve years in the House he has never seen anything like this.

In 1983 on Contra and 1979 and 1980, there were secret sessions. Prior to that, the last Secret Session was held in 1825. One of the members of the House suggested that he had attended the three latest and heard nothing but “mumbo-jumbo” and nothing of value.

A representative from Georgia believes that the session is necessary although extraordinary. From New York, it was suggested that Congress is frowned on enough by the public and called the measure extreme. Why was the secret information not taken to the Intelligence Committee, rather than the House?

Is the “secret information” on Top Secret Level or Secret Level? That was an unanswered question. It was finally decided that it was on the Secret Level...



http://www.emergentchaos.com.nyud.net:8080/images/sept-05/cone-of-silence.jpg


http://www.rozario.com.au.nyud.net:8080/rozario_files/GetSmartConeOfSilence.jpg

http://alistair.cockburn.us.nyud.net:8080/images/Maxwell_Smart_in_a_cone_of_silence.jpg

[maseman]

1. What the F are they hiding from us?

Good for Dennis.

[kristopher]

4. Probably going to give all the Dems a customized "look what NSA found out about you" spitzer pack.

There is a reason they don't want FISA oversight.

[Drum]

7. Yes.... And THAT'S why Dennis Kucinich

would make a terrific President. We need his voice!

Kicking/Recc'ing

[stevedeshazer]

2. These people represent US.

"Secret" sessions are BULLSHIT.

John Boner has no right as minority leader to demand anything, much less a closed session. But Nancy is going right along.

It's "We the People", Nancy.

Our Constitution is being crapped on AGAIN by these timid Democrats.

Let's say Rep. Boner was in the majority, and the Democrats wanted a closed session. What the hell do you all think would happen?

:grr:

[OneBlueSky]

10. no they don't . . . Congress hasn't represented "us" for some time now . . .

Congress represents the corporate special interests that fund their campaigns and keep them in office . . . whenever an issue pits the people's interests against corporate interests, the corporations always win . . . always . . .

[flyarm]

3. is it fascism yet????????..eom

[Divine Discontent]

5. I'm pretty sure it is, flyarm. I finally have come to that admittance. those evil sob's. eom

[VP505]

6. Next we get the announcement

that because some magical new classified information has come to light the telecoms will receive immunity and Bu$h will get enhanced powers to spy on us. Unfortunately they won't be able to tell us about it doncha know, its a secret but we will just have to trust them.

[truthisfreedom]

"In 1983 on Contra and 1979 and 1980, there were secret sessions." Hmm.

Contra. Remember that, anyone?

[truthisfreedom]

8. dupe (augh!)

my macbook air is determined to drive me nuts.

[krkaufman]

9. Sounds like the Dems are in for a scare session.

Hope they took some Depends in with 'em...