GAO's, Cheney's attorneys go to court - GAO wants to force VP to hand over energy panel records

The New York Times ^ | September 28, 2002 | The New York Times Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

GAO's, Cheney's attorneys go to court

Agency wants to force VP to hand over energy panel records

09/28/2002

The New York Times

WASHINGTON - Attorneys for the General Accounting Office and Vice President Dick Cheney clashed Friday before a federal judge over whether the executive branch's right to keep records confidential trumps the legislative branch's right to investigate how public money is spent.

For the first time in the congressional agency's 81-year history, the comptroller general went to federal court Friday to ask a judge to order a member of the executive branch to turn over records to Congress.

Attorneys for Comptroller General David Walker, who heads the General Accounting Office, and attorneys for the vice president argued over whether a federal judge can force Mr. Cheney to reveal the identities of industry executives who helped the administration develop a national energy policy last year.

Judge John Bates, who was appointed to the U.S. District Court in December 2001 by President Bush, is not expected to decide the case for several weeks. Whichever side loses is expected to appeal.

Carter Phillips, an attorney for the GAO, argued that if Judge Bates sided with the administration, the decision would have a "devastating" effect on "the GAO's ability to do its job."

Paul Clement, the principal deputy solicitor general who represents Mr. Cheney, told the judge that the GAO lacks the legal standing to bring the case against the vice president.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/092802dnnatcheney.a4010.html

[MeekOneGOP]

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

At least I hope we won't be hearing split hairs about whether or not Mr. Cheney is a government employee or not!

[Elkiejg]

Alert to GOA -- we're at war you stupid jerks. Do something really worthwhile - this is no longer important (never way).

[Karsus]

Last time I checked the USA was a goverment of the people so why keep who he met with secret? While energy policy does effect national security, what harm would be do by listing who he met with?
I also think that the US goverment has more then enough employees to do more than one thing at once...

[Piquaboy]

I thought they would be tired of beating that same old drum by now.

[truerepublic]

Why ban't Cheney disclose the members of his secret energy meetings. Probably because the American people would see that energy policy is designed to profit energy companies not the american people. You would also see Cheney meeting with CEO's that are now facing indictments for a host of criminal offenses.

[mssnoop]

I would also like to see the minutes of meetings with Salomon Smith Barney where Cheney was an advisor. Then I want to know more about Lynn Cheney as Director of FLP that was doing business with Adelphia Communications.

[muawiyah]

What you really want to see are records of the meetings between Adelphia Communications and the guys who wrote the federal cable TV regulation act.

You do remember that one, right?

This law make it all but impossible for outsiders to figure out what the cable TV guys were really up to, and as it were, this one was stealing money!

No doubt some of it was funneled back to the guys who wrote the law. No doubt Billzo and Hillary got more than their fair share too!

[muawiyah]

You want to know why the VP doesn't just give the GAO all the information it demanded. First of all, Dick Cheney is the presiding officer of the US Senate. Last time anyone looked, the law GAO operates under does not affect Congress or it's officers.

Secondly, none of the information is germane to any activity GAO oversees.

Thirdly, it's a Democrat plot.

Any of these reasons is sufficient to reject the GAO demands.

[peekaboo]

This issue will take legs and be seen in ads against republicans. Why does it resurface at this time. Congressional sessions are winding down. All part of the DNC political machine. I for one do not think that the CHeney's are criminals.

[MeekOneGOP]

I'm trying to remember. It seems like some squeaky wheel DIMocRATs pushed this along?....

[mssnoop]

I would be happy to read any documents like that and see if I can unravel any loose threads.