but Henry seems to be arming the Congressional Records with ammo, should someone, someday, choose to use it.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Administration Oversight
Vice President Exempts His Office from the Requirements for Protecting Classified Information
The Oversight Committee has learned that over the objections of the National Archives, Vice President Cheney exempted his office from the presidential order that establishes government-wide procedures for safeguarding classified national security information. The Vice President asserts that his office is not an “entity within the executive branch.”
As described in a letter from Chairman Waxman to the Vice President, the National Archives protested the Vice President's position in letters written in June 2006 and August 2006. When these letters were ignored, the National Archives wrote to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in January 2007 to seek a resolution of the impasse. The Vice President's staff responded by seeking to abolish the agency within the Archives that is responsible for implementing the President's executive order.
In his letter to the Vice President, Chairman Waxman writes: "I question both the legality and wisdom of your actions. ...
t would appear particularly irresponsible to give an office with your history of security breaches an exemption from the safeguards that apply to all other executive branch officials."
A fact sheet prepared by Chairman Waxman describes other instances in which the Vice President's office has sought to avoid oversight and accountability.
Documents and Links
* Chairman Waxman's Letter to the Vice President
* Letter from National Archives to the Attorney General
* Second Letter from National Archives to the Vice President's Office
* First Letter from National Archives to the Vice President's Office
* Fact Sheet on the Vice President's Efforts to Avoid Oversight and Accountability
http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1371
Over the past five years, public trust in the federal government has been eroded by the rising
influence of special interests, the growth in government secrecy, the appointment of political
cronies to high office, recurring procurement abuses, the subversion and manipulation of science,
and retaliation against whistleblowers. Rep. Waxman and Democrats on the Government
Reform Committee have developed six proposals, articulated in comprehensive legislation, that
would help restore an honest and accountable government in Washington.
These six good government proposals are urgently needed to rebuild the public’s faith in government. But all six proposals — even those with bipartisan support on the Government Reform Committee — have been blocked from floor consideration by the Republican leadership in the House.
To read about the individial reform bills, visit:
• The Clean Contracting Act of 2006 (HR 6069).
• The Executive Branch Reform Act of 2006 (HR 5112).
• The Federal Propaganda Prohibition Act (HR 373).
• The Restore Scientific Integrity to Federal Research and Policymaking Act (HR 839).
• The Restore Open Government Act of 2005 (HR 2331).
• The Hurricane Katrina Accountability and Clean Contracting Bill (HR 3838).
• The Anti Cronyism and Public Safety Act (HR 3925).
• The Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act (HR 1317).
http://oversight.house.gov/chronology.asp