The public's business

Palm Beach Post ^ | April 30, 2004

[presidio9]

The argument would seem to be simple:

When a member of the White House meets with outsiders to plan legislation that will affect every American, every American deserves to know who helped to draw up the legislation. But Hillary Clinton didn't see it that way in 1993, and Dick Cheney doesn't see it now.

Ms. Clinton led a task force that developed her husband's health-care plan, which Congress shot down in 1994. White House attorneys argued that the group was an "anonymous horde" that didn't break the law by operating in secret. A court disagreed. The "horde," by the way, exceeded its estimated $200,000 budget by about $13.2 million and, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press, created its own bureaucracy.

This week, Solicitor General Theodore Olson argued before the Supreme Court that future presidents won't be able to function if "subordinates" have to disclose with whom they meet and who says what. The issue is the vice president's energy task force. If its records become public, as two groups want, the public will learn officially that Mr. Cheney allowed GOP-friendly energy companies to make energy policy that benefits them. The Senate has blocked the legislation.

For obvious reasons, the White House doesn't want the records out. But this week, The Boston Globe reported that the task force's executive director left the administration to become a lobbyist for companies that stand to benefit from the legislation. However the high court rules, the truth is getting out.

[Phantom Lord]

When a member of the White House meets with outsiders to plan legislation that will affect every American, every American deserves to know who helped to draw up the legislation. But Hillary Clinton didn't see it that way in 1993, and Dick Cheney doesn't see it now.

The two are not comparable. Hillary, while yes the First Lady, was NOT elected to any office, or appointed and confirmed to any position. The First Lady has legal, constitutional, or mandated power. None.

Dick Cheney was elected Vice President.

[Zeppo]

When a member of the White House meets with outsiders to plan legislation that will affect every American, every American deserves to know who helped to draw up the legislation.

When a member of Congress meets with outsiders to plan legislation that will affect every American, every American deserves to know who helped to draw up the legislation. When a Senator blackballs a judicial nomination, every American deserves to know who helped to advance the Communist cause.

[Cable225]

If its records become public, as two groups want, the public will learn officially that Mr. Cheney allowed GOP-friendly energy companies to make energy policy that benefits them.

I'll assume the Editors can back up that little jump up with rock-solid proof.