Posted on 07/20/2007 11:24:59 AM PDT by leadpenny
WASHINGTON -- Oregonians called Peter DeFazio's office, worried there was a conspiracy buried in the classified portion of a White House plan for operating the government after a terrorist attack.
As a member of the U.S. House on the Homeland Security Committee, DeFazio, D-Ore., is permitted to enter a secure "bubbleroom" in the Capitol and examine classified material. So he asked the White House to see the secret documents.
On Wednesday, DeFazio got his answer: DENIED.
"I just can't believe they're going to deny a member of Congress the right of reviewing how they plan to conduct the government of the United States after a significant terrorist attack," DeFazio says.
Homeland Security Committee staffers told his office that the White House initially approved his request, but it was later quashed. DeFazio doesn't know who did it or why.
"We're talking about the continuity of the government of the United States of America," DeFazio says. "I would think that would be relevant to any member of Congress, let alone a member of the Homeland Security Committee."
Bush administration spokesman Trey Bohn declined to say why DeFazio was denied access: "We do not comment through the press on the process that this access entails. It is important to keep in mind that much of the information related to the continuity of government is highly sensitive."
Norm Ornstein, a legal scholar who studies government continuity at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said he "cannot think of one good reason" to deny access to a member of Congress who serves on the Homeland Security Committee.
"I find it inexplicable and probably reflective of the usual, knee-jerk overextension of executive power that we see from this White House," Ornstein said.
(Excerpt) Read more at oregonlive.com ...
Not even if he is a terrorist sympathizer? Sheesh....
Or perhaps he's been identified as a security risk.
As a member of the U.S. House on the Homeland Security Committee, DeFazio, D-Ore., is permitted to enter a secure “bubbleroom” in the Capitol and examine classified material.
Let him use the cone of silence instead.
What? Huh?
Only if monitored by Agent 99. lol
Coming from a legal scholar at AEI.
That being said...
we’re just a colonoscopy and a SuperSized Big Mac away from a Pelosi Presidency!
Godspeed on your procedure, Mr. President...
I have had personal experience with Pete when he was a OR Stare Rep. Let me just say this guy is a Class A Jerk. His temper is UNBELIEVABLE. The WH should deny him access to everything just based on personality alone.
Wow, it sounds like the administration has identified it’s enemies. This had to happen sooner or later. One entire party is devoted to treason, the other side cannot play clean for ever.
Defazio is a member of the “Progressive Caucus”. ie. CPUSA.
But what kind of precedent does it set for when the tables are turned?
Hey, DeFazio! It’s none of your business, you little Commie creep!
It was tongue in cheek...
My bad, I missed the body language. ;)
Is DeFazio perhaps, under investigation by the DOJ for leaking or passing classified information on to our enemies,...Hmmmmmm?
A catch 22 situation...
I think any plan to continue government in a major catastrophy should have to be legally approved - BUT...
That approval process would require a lot of things that really NEED to be secret for the plant to work to be revealed to far too many people. And we know that many of our legislators are nowhere near honest enough, nor trustworthy enough to keep a secret....
The Democrat Party needs one massive colonoscopy, or better yet, an atomic enema. That would be the only way to get all that c*rap out of their heads.
Pelosi couldn’t eat a Big Mac, let alone a SuperSized one because it would crack her face.
If Hillary ate one, it would go immediately to her thighs.
Harry Reid would say, “I’m a veggen” which is why he looks anorexic, this Senator from the Brothel State.
Schumer would say, I want extra bacon with that.
Kennedy would say, “I want two” plus bourbon.
Kerry would say that “I was at Burger King in Cambodia during Christmas 1969”.
Durbin would say, “Only American Nazis eat Big Macs”.
Michael Moore would say, “Supersize me”.
Politicians are such fun to play with, sort of like catching scorpions and rolling around in poison ivy.
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