Shilling For Justice Department, Kyl Placed Secret Hold On Open Government Act
Shilling For Justice Department, Kyl Placed Secret Hold On Open Government Act
Last week, ThinkProgress noted that a bill called the OPEN Government Act had been locked down in the Senate by a secret hold. The bill in question is a “bipartisan effort to update the seminal Freedom of Information Act to make the government more open and accountable.” The act would:
– Restore meaningful deadlines for agency action under FOIA;
– Impose real consequences on federal agencies for missing statutory deadlines;
– Establish a FOIA hotline service for all federal agencies; and
– Create a FOIA Ombudsman as an alternative to costly litigation.
When Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and John Cornyn (R-TX) tried to bring the bill to a vote on the floor, “the vote was blocked by ‘Senator Anonymous.’ Some Republican senator called the Minority Leader’s office and objected to a vote on the bill, but asked for anonymity and did not publicly state the reason for the hold.”
The man behind the secret hold has now revealed himself: Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ). Kyl’s excuse for placing a hold on the bill? Alberto Gonzales’ Justice Department opposes several provisions:
Kyl says the Justice Department is concerned that it could force them to reveal sensitive information.
In a statement Thursday, Kyl said the agency’s “uncharacteristically strong” opposition is reason enough to think twice about the legislation, and he will block a vote until both sides can work out the differences.
Kyl’s water-carrying for the Justice Department is untenable. The OPEN Government Act has overwhelmingly passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. Similar legislation in the House passed in March by 308 to 117. Kyl needs to get out of the way. As Sen. Leahy put it, “This is a good government bill that Democrats and Republicans alike can and should work together to enact. It should be passed without further delay.“
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
46 Responses to “Shilling For Justice Department, Kyl Placed Secret Hold On Open Government Act”
Register
RSSLogin
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog RollAbout Think ProgressContact Us
Donate
Kyl is pure scum.
May 31st, 2007 at 9:37 pmOK if one fool GOPer Senator can block a bill, then how come 48 Democratic Senators are unable to block anything?
May 31st, 2007 at 9:38 pmI left out the Dem Senator in the hospital who had brain surgery, and the Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and the worthless DINO Lieberman
May 31st, 2007 at 9:40 pmA secret hold on the Open Government Act. Republicans really don’t get irony, do they?
May 31st, 2007 at 9:40 pmA hold because the DOJ is worried about sensitive information??? Riiiiigggghhhttt, like the DOJ has any credibility left.
The only sensitive information the DOJ is worried having to turn over is the stuff that will get them all thrown in jail… where they belong.
Actually, this is a probably a pretty dumb move on their part (not that they make too many smart moves). If they get convicted before Bush leaves office, they all have a chance of getting a pardon. If they drag this out too much longer, their convictions will occur during President Gore’s administration (assuming he runs, of course) making the odds of a pardon much much much longer indeed.
May 31st, 2007 at 9:42 pmIf they had any sense of irony, their heads would ‘asplode.
May 31st, 2007 at 9:43 pmSenator Kyl understands the important issues, like making sure that internet gambling is prohibited as part of the Port Security Act.
May 31st, 2007 at 9:44 pmAhh….so it was Kyl.
I am Jack’s complete lack of surprise.
May 31st, 2007 at 9:44 pmBernie’s a reliable vote… more some then many blue dogs. Lieberman should be dropped off a pier. I sure hope we don’t need his sorry ass in ‘09.
May 31st, 2007 at 9:46 pmBernie is a good solid lefty. He is nothing like Lieberman.
May 31st, 2007 at 9:49 pmwhy does this fricking loser have to be from my state? and then we have McCain …… I have not senators. Kyl stays in power because of ?????? religion?
May 31st, 2007 at 9:50 pmOne GOPer Senator can block a bill, but there was NOT one Democrat in the Senate that could block the funding bill?
May 31st, 2007 at 10:00 pmThey just don’t get it, or they’re afraid they will all be showering together in Leavenworth.
?Have you told your friends and family today that NeoCONS ‘R’ SCUM?
May 31st, 2007 at 10:07 pmIf Sen. Kyl means what he says, he should welcome an opportunity to debate the merits of this bill and seek to improve it through the legislative process, of which he purports to be a key member of what is arguably the most important legislative body in the United States.
Instead, he demonstrates the Bush administration’s disdain for representative govt by placing a secret hold on essential legislation at the behest of a Justice Department mired in a self-inflicted scandal involving political corruption, lying to Congress and obstruction of justice.
I hope his home state voters remember his lack of respect, indeed, his disdain, for their representatives when he asks them to renew his employment contract as an employee of the United States Government.
May 31st, 2007 at 10:10 pmOK if one fool GOPer Senator can block a bill, then how come 48 Democratic Senators are unable to block anything?
Comment by Jay Randal — May 31, 2007 @ 9:38 pm
Once you answer that question, you will be seeing Washington through the ugly purple sun glasses of complicity.
May 31st, 2007 at 10:19 pmHmm, wonder how the trolls will try to spin this…
May 31st, 2007 at 10:25 pmSomeone needs to fix the Senate. Regardless of which Senator is responsible for something like this, there is no way that a single person should have this kind of power. It’s not in the Constitution, it’s just ensconced in the Senate “rules” and they need to clean up their act.
May 31st, 2007 at 10:48 pmOk, sensitive information regarding national security?
Or sensitive information regarding possible future prosecutions of DoJ officials?
Am I being too cynical? :D
May 31st, 2007 at 10:49 pmAs a former Arizonan, this surprises me, and I’ve been convinced that Kyl was a mindless tool since day 1. Zoiks.
May 31st, 2007 at 10:51 pmKyl is hiding something for KKKarl Rove.
May 31st, 2007 at 11:21 pmThe Senate CAN pass this bill even though Kyle is blocking it, but they would have to take a cloture vote and it would take a significant amount of Senate time. Usually, non-controversial bills like these sail through the Senate and are passed by “unanimous consent.”
This bill is important. The Senate can pass it over Kyle’s objections. The question is, do they feel it is important enough to take the time to do that?
June 1st, 2007 at 12:02 amThis bill is important. The Senate can pass it over Kyle’s objections. The question is, do they feel it is important enough to take the time to do that?
Comment by College Progressive
I would certainly hope the F*#king feel it is important enough…
June 1st, 2007 at 12:08 amI am trying to remember this quote from 2005/2006 - let me see if I can remember it right - “Up or down vote” “Just an up or down vote” wah wah wah - Up or down, Up or down - wah wah wah.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:15 am“I would certainly hope the F*#king feel it is important enough”
Unfortunately the craven Dems have no idea what is important to actual people.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:17 amHeh, yeah, up or down vote. That was just another talking point for lying righties (that would be all of them).
June 1st, 2007 at 12:29 amI would say that it is time for the people of Arizona to step up to the plate and let this joker know what they think of them. Problem is, they’ve already done it. Neither Kyl or McCain have any hope of being re-elected in Arizona, so they have nothing to lose with their obstructionist tactics.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:36 amHow does one REMOVE a senator from office?
We all need to learn how to get these jokers out of their positions and kick them off the list for reapplying…there must be an easier way to sack government officials…this place is out of control.
Someone post a simple way for us to impeach every member of government that we find out is a crook! I want a big red button that goes…BZZZZP..then that guy gets booted. (next!)
June 1st, 2007 at 1:44 amUmmmm…. Ok, I must’ve missed something. How the hell does one guy in the minority party get to block the business of the entire senate and why, once again, can’t our panzy ass democratic leadership put a stop to it?
June 1st, 2007 at 2:25 amHow is it that one person can hold up this legislation and yet no-one was available to “hold-up” the Iraq occupation supplemental funding bill? It’s laughable what we call democracy in this country if it weren’t so tragic. Just another day in the empire.
June 1st, 2007 at 2:38 amUnfortunately the craven Dems have no idea what is important to actual people.
Comment by JPark
Unfortunately, I think you’re right. (Ouch… I hate admitting that…)
June 1st, 2007 at 3:08 amA secret hold on the Open Government Act. Republicans really don’t get irony, do they?
Comment by JPark — May 31, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
They learned it from Byrd. Since there was no outcry when he did it, they thought it must be acceptable.
“Byrd and Alaska Republican Ted Stevens, two of the most skilled purveyors of federal funds, used the parliamentary maneuver to stop legislation that would create a searchable database of some $2.5 trillion in federal spending. …”
June 1st, 2007 at 3:33 amhttp://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/144670
Say there fellas…
If you like calling Democrats cowards–which you certainly seem to do–I suggest you
1) pick out a specific Democrat, and
2) call him a coward to his face.
See how it goes…
Let’s face it, none of you has the balls to do that. So you might watch your mouth.
June 1st, 2007 at 6:37 amhow come nobody is holding a candle up to the sublime irony of a politician secretly blocking legislation for more open government?
June 1st, 2007 at 7:19 amWhy don’t Dems put a hold on Kyl, say in a remote closet in the halls of the Capital where no one would hear him or find him for days?
June 1st, 2007 at 7:32 amWhy don’t Dems put a hold on Kyl, say in a remote closet in the halls of the Capital where no one would hear him or find him for days?
Comment by John the Elder — June 1, 2007 @ 7:32 am
Because they would lose the “moral high ground”? ;)
June 1st, 2007 at 8:16 amIs he talking about the same Justice Department that is being investigated by Congress, the Jusitice Departmen, has El Fredo as the head? Sure they do not want any bill that will reveal their cooked, lying ways…and Kyl is defending the crooks.
June 1st, 2007 at 8:25 amWHAT? ONE SENATOR CAN PLACE A HOLD ON LEGISLATION AND STOP THE LEGISLATION FROM GOING FORWARD?
IF THIS IS TRUE, WHERE WERE THE D’S WHEN BUSH’S LEGISLATION STRIPING US OF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS WAS PASSED? WHY DID THEY NOT PLACE A HOLD ON THAT LEGISLATION?
WHAT ABOUT WAR FUNDING? NO HOLD THERE EITHER.
AND TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH? NOT TO MENTION NUMEROUS OTHER HARMFUL LEGISLATION.
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON…
June 1st, 2007 at 9:30 amHey, stop whining…this is the BushChaney version of democracy….one man CAN stop a vote and cancel the will of the majority….did you learn nothing from the 2000 presidential elections…OK, so it was five supremes who canceled the will of the majority…
June 1st, 2007 at 9:54 amKyl is one of the biggest locksteppers out there.
June 1st, 2007 at 11:01 amAnything that makes the DOJ nervous is probably a good thing for America. Somebody needs to remove this unamerican asshole from office. Support America, and deffend it from the government.
June 1st, 2007 at 11:17 amKyl was on his knees begging Fredo for a list of online gaming companies at Fredo’s big hearing last month. He went off topic for 5 minutes to grovel. This is his way of getting that list and taking care of his big money land-based casino donors.
June 1st, 2007 at 11:33 amKyl aiding the politicizig of the DOJ? I have one word to say: conspiracy.
June 1st, 2007 at 1:54 pmLet’s face it, none of you has the balls to do that. So you might watch your mouth.
Oh, piss off. I’ve written my senators plenty. They haven’t shown up to kick my ass yet.
June 1st, 2007 at 2:36 pmKyl is one of the most politicized public figures in the Senate. He is a lackey for the DoJ and has been playing games to stall this bill to protect the DoJ from meaningful oversight. The DoJ is desperate to stop it so who do they run to …Kyl. Legislation by ambush. He really has no “viable” reason to hold this bill up, he was just responding to a call from Gonzales, that’s why he refused to give his name or a reason. Gonzales hadn’t come up with one yet. God, these republicans are just as corrupt as they can be in their support of each other’s cover-ups.
June 1st, 2007 at 5:24 pmNo integrity left what-so-ever.
you can reach john kyl’s office at: (602) 840-1891. the person answering the phone today is elizabeth. she is a very nice lady so please be courteous to her. when i called i pointed out that kyl was calling democrats obstructionists because they were keeping debate open on bills they opposed. he was complaining that the dems werent giving bills that had bipartisan support and up or down vote. now hes being a hypocrite.
June 1st, 2007 at 5:31 pmwe all know the real reason for the hold on this bill.
Senator John Kyl,
I support you, but what kind of support would it be if I could not disagree with you on some issues..You and the President has one of the greatest opportunities to really get a better immigration bill. and major support from 80 to 90% of the people in Arizona and possibly the entire Southwest. Think about it..We know that the security fencing is in big trouble so use it to make things right…Go to the President and share with him that we can still get a great immigration bill and the support of the people..Hold a news conference and tell the truth about the fence. And tell the us that until the fencing problem can be solve we will not be signing this bill, and also this will give us more time to really go into details with this bill and begin implementing for example working out how to give background checks to 12,000,000 people. I would go one more step and tell the illigal immigrant that you will have this time until the fence is build and completed to begfin to register if you plan to stay here and really help us build a better America.(Then they have know excuse that have been told) Then release the money to build the wall and get started and inform the people of America the progress that you are having..Of course everyone knows about the kennedy bills and we know nothing has been further from the truth..Talk radio is your best friend and the only media that can get your ideas out to the people and get you the support you need. Just don’t keep secrets from us..you we know the number change on the bill to keep us from being inform and keeping us inform is the best idea. You have a greatest opportunity here Senator Kyl and talk radio has given it to you…Just think about it…You and the President can really show us that you have listen and You can another plus is that you can help the party be elected and take back the house and the senate and really straighten out the bill and everything else..We do have hope and I am lookling at vthe election next year and this might even help Joh McCain if he were to help you in this matter..Thank you for you time to read this and I hope whoever reads this for you will actual pass it on to you..Thanks again..Mr. Fred Payne
June 23rd, 2007 at 11:06 am