GOP Senator Puts Secret Hold On Bill Restoring Public Access To Presidential Records
GOP Senator Puts Secret Hold On Bill Restoring Public Access To Presidential Records
In Nov. 2001, President Bush signed an executive order that historians called “unprecedented” and “would turn the 1978 Presidential Records Act on its head by allowing such materials to be kept secret ‘in perpetuity.’”
In March, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), along with Reps. Russell Platts (R-PA), Lacy Clay (D-MO), and Dan Burton (R-IN) introduced a bill that would “nullify” Bush’s 2001 order “and restore public access to presidential records.” The bill passed the House with a 333-93 vote and the Senate Government Affairs Committee agreed in June to move its version to the floor for a vote, but the bill was stalled when an anonymous Republican senator put a hold on it:
A fight over White House secrecy has taken a new twist, with Senate officials confirming Wednesday that a Republican senator is secretly blocking a bill that would reverse President Bush’s 2001 executive order allowing ex-presidents to seal their records indefinitely. […]
Suspicion for the hold initially focused on three senators — Ted Stevens of Alaska, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and George Voinovich of Ohio — who objected in committee to a provision giving ex-presidents 40 days to review document requests. That was changed to 90 days to address their concerns.
Aides to Sens. Stevens and Voinovich said Wednesday that their bosses are not blocking the bill. Coburn aides didn’t respond to inquiries.
If Coburn is the Senator blocking the bill from coming to a vote, it wouldn’t be the only bill that he is currently blocking. Last month, Coburn placed a hold on a suicide prevention bill for military veterans that was introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA).
You can contact Coburn’s office here or call it at 202-224-5754.
UPDATE: In the comments, someone from Coburn’s staff says that he is not the Senator putting a hold on the bill:
The office of Sen. Tom Coburn would like to state for the record that he is not holding this bill related to presidential records. It is true that he placed a hold on the bill following its passage through the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in June, but has since worked out his minor concern with the office of Sen. Joseph Lieberman at which time he lifted his hold.
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47 Responses to “GOP Senator Puts Secret Hold On Bill Restoring Public Access To Presidential Records”
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Oklahoma: Imhofe and Coburn
the dynamic duo
September 20th, 2007 at 1:23 pmOK, place your bets, folks.
Which Republican jackbooted slime is responsible for this cowardly attempt to keep the light of truth from Chimpy’s nefarious misdeeds?
Please state your pick below. Winners will receive bragging rights and kudos from the rest of TP’s non-troll community.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:26 pmCan someone explain to me how one person can block a bill? I understand the whole filibuster and cloture idea… that’s 41 senators. How can ONE block a bill (seriously)?
~Sean
September 20th, 2007 at 1:27 pmRepublicans spend “the people’s time” being obstructionists.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:27 pmA secret block by a Repub. on a bill to open up secret records of a Repub. President! Same shit different day.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:28 pmIn perpetuity? Not a chance. Can anyone name a single thing ever signed by a president in perpetuity? That means the next president’s “power” is limited by a previous president’s. This is unconstitutional.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:29 pmCan someone explain to me how one person can block a bill? I understand the whole filibuster and cloture idea… that’s 41 senators. How can ONE block a bill (seriously)?
~Sean
September 20th, 2007 at 1:31 pm=================================================
Senate rules don’t explicitly provide for a “hold,” but the mechanism dates at least to Lyndon Johnson’s days as majority leader. A hold is basically a way of signaling the intent to filibuster, and by tradition, it can be filed anonymously.
what is the aversion to publishing TOLL FREE phone numbers???
here are the toll free capitol switchboard numbers:
1 (800) 828 - 0498
1 (800) 459 - 1887
1 (800) 614 - 2803
1 (866) 340 - 9281
1 (866) 338 - 1015
1 (877) 851 - 6437
politely ask for any rep or senator… TOLL FREE…
September 20th, 2007 at 1:33 pm…
This bull about secret holds or even individual holds is anachronistic and outrageous in a democracy! It’s a shame we don’t have one and can’t get one!
September 20th, 2007 at 1:33 pmSweet hair.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:34 pmWHY are the Repubs in both houses of Congress continuing to shield this corrupt administration at the risk of their own political careers? This makes absolutely no sense at all. It’s as if they are all being blackmailed or something.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:38 pmDon’t bother calling any Republicans- all their staffs will hang up on you as soon as they get the gist of your call. They’re in bunker mode at this point.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:40 pmCan anyone doubt that freedom is vanishing under the corrupt, criminal, cowardly, fascist Bush regime?
Amazing things will come out about these criminals if democracy is ever restored in this country.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:41 pmOBSTRUCTIONIST REPUBLICANS STRIKE AGAIN! This should be the headline of every newspaper and the lead in story of every news show on an almost daily basis. Liberal media my ass! When are these c@cksucking, toetapping Cons going to get through their collective head that THEY work for US? If we want to see the books, open the f@cking books! If you’ve got nothing to hide…aw forget it. These scumbags will never learn. Even after they’re either in jail or just forced into retirement and voted into obscurity they’ll sit in their rockers cradling their rifles mumbling to themselves about how this could possibly have happened. Secret block. WTF? Bring it to the floor and LET THIS DOUCHEBAG FILIBUSTER UNTIL BLUE IN THE FACE about why this presidents records should be blocked from public view. Are you listening way up there on the Hill? LET THEM FILIBUSTER!
September 20th, 2007 at 1:42 pmSweet hair.
Comment by Squegeeboo — September 20, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
You like that “part my hair with a firecracker taped to my forehead” look, huh? =D
September 20th, 2007 at 1:42 pmJust another example of the lack of accountibility of this entire regime and its supporters.
“I’m going to block this bill, but I don’t want anyone to know that I’m the one blocking it”
September 20th, 2007 at 1:45 pmthe “part my hair with a Oklahoma grass fire” look
September 20th, 2007 at 1:46 pmThe original plan was to supress the records until Jeb could successfully run after George. The records will show that the Bush family are crooks and traitors. Too late! George W. has ruined the family dynasty with his incompetence and arrogance. The next congress and President will free up the records and everyone will finally see what happened. Jeb will NEVER be president.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:48 pmIt’s about time that we do away with anyone being allowed to block anything “in secret”. I don’t know where that idea came from, but it is one that needs to be changed NOW.
When are these lemming Republics going to stop hiding behind procedural tricks to keep the public from knowing what they are doing?
September 20th, 2007 at 1:49 pmCaption Contest;
[Devo Hair]
¶¶ Well I been workin in a coal mine
September 20th, 2007 at 1:49 pmGoin down down
Workin in a coal mine
Whew about to slip down ¶¶
Wayne
You like that “part my hair with a firecracker taped to my forehead†look, huh? =D
I like the ‘What do you mean wig? This is clearly not a wig, my hair naturally looks fake’ kind of look.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:56 pmJeb will NEVER be president.
Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — September 20, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
Nor will any other Bush, shrub, or tree…
September 20th, 2007 at 1:56 pmCoburn is following in the Grand Old Peestain tradition of Hasturd’s Ethics committee; ‘Don’t ask & never tell’.
Foley’s antics were well known on the Hill. Hasturd, Boner & others ‘looked the other way’ so ‘The Party’ wouldn’t look bad.
Politics over Ethics.
Business before People.
Profit over Safety.
You know, those people. Coburn & Imhofe should be locked in a room and forced to listen to Slim Whitman for the rest of their lives.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:56 pmYou like that “part my hair with a firecracker taped to my forehead†look, huh? =D
Comment by Wayne — September 20, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
Okay, you get laffs once, and now yer a stand-up comic?
(But I gotta say, it’s a funny line… :-D!!!)
September 20th, 2007 at 1:57 pmRepublicans will simply not allow themselves to be held accountable for their own actions.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:59 pmSecret holds are for rubber stamping, democracy hating, debate abating, closet critters who hate the political process of American law!
Need we remind the holder of the secret hold about schoolhouse rock?
September 20th, 2007 at 1:59 pmhttp://www.school-house-rock.com/Bill.htm which says nothing about secret holds?l
Coburn & Imhofe should be locked in a room and forced to listen to Slim Whitman for the rest of their lives
Comment by Zimzone — September 20, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
No, no… much better to lock ‘em in a restroom stall w/ Larry Craig for the rest of their lives.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:59 pmGiven the actions of the Rethuglicans in the Senate and House of late it is ridiculous for the Dems to continually introduce meaningful legislation not approved by bushco and the braindead Rethug lackeys in Congress. The Dems do, however, have a weapon that is absolutely foolproof that only takes a pair of little cojones to use. That weapon is to introduce absolutely no bills in either the House or Senate that do not have a rider that will completely emasculate the bushco. If the Rethugs vote down or filibuster the bill the monkey is on their back if they pass the bill all is well for the Country. This must absolutely apply to all fiscal appropriations bills. The Dems have the majority so all they have to say is do it my way or we won’t do it at all.
September 20th, 2007 at 2:00 pmSo, if a particular mechanism is not a “rule” but simply precident, courtesy, tradition, … hypothetically speaking, couldn’t a majority leader decide they were no longer going to honor that precident? Or, on the assumption it’s a member’s way of signaling his intention to filibuster, actually REQUIRE the member to go through with the intent?
My thinking is that the Republicans have spent years playing hardball against their opponents — shutting down the gov’t, signing statements, refusing security clearance necessary to investigate, threatening to get rid of the filibuster. Shouldn’t the Democrats think of creative ways to do the same thing? I’d respect the group that decided to get rid of someting as un-democratic-sounding as “secret holds.”
September 20th, 2007 at 2:00 pmI think Sen Rodham Clinton is behind it. She has sealed her PhD dissertation too.
Comment by Great Americans — September 20, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
September 20th, 2007 at 2:04 pmAs if you’re capable of “thought”………..LOL
That was a good one.
Nitpick…
Rep. Todd Platts (PA-19)…Todd Russell Platts is his full name
September 20th, 2007 at 2:08 pmMy thinking is that the Republicans have spent years playing hardball against their opponents — shutting down the gov’t, signing statements, refusing security clearance necessary to investigate, threatening to get rid of the filibuster. Shouldn’t the Democrats think of creative ways to do the same thing? I’d respect the group that decided to get rid of someting as un-democratic-sounding as “secret holds.â€
Comment by binx — September 20, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
The Dems need to appoint real leaders to the head of their party ; not spinless bureaucrats like Reid and Pelosi……..
September 20th, 2007 at 2:08 pmWhen Webb’s amendment is allowed to die without debate and without the horseshit GOP being held accountable to explain their positions individually on camera to the American people they WORK FOR , what chance is there of historical precedent like a “hold” being removed/ignored ?
“I think Sen Rodham Clinton is behind it. She has sealed her PhD dissertation too.
Comment by Great Americans”
Why the americans? it took more than one of you to come up with that? you really need help.
September 20th, 2007 at 2:11 pmAh, secrets…the very foundation of democracy. This senator (small s) is hiding what he is doing. Shhhhhh……it’s a secret. This guy is terrorizing the system of government in our country. The people put him in office and now he acts like a prince. We need to know what they’re doing in the capitol. Everything is secret. I’ve had an FOIA at the CDC for a year. Originally they said the report was classified secret (the post Katrina report), now they say it’s on appeal. I’ll never see the report. There is no justice and no democracy where there is rampant secrecy!
September 20th, 2007 at 2:13 pm“Sweet hair.
Comment by Squegeeboo — September 20, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
You like that “part my hair with a firecracker taped to my forehead†look, huh? =D
Comment by Wayne”
I thought it was the “Doh! who cleaned the sliding glass door?” look.
September 20th, 2007 at 2:13 pmI just called his office and it sure sounds like they’re swamped–keep calling!
September 20th, 2007 at 2:29 pmSo when Bush gets his Preznitzel Liberry, and all the kool aid lemmings go to be shocked and awed, what will happen is they’ll goosestep in the door and there won’t be anything there. It’s all sealed away - top secret. But they will like that won’t they? They” be safer cause the terrist can’t see the secrets. Right?
Just when I think it can’t get any more bizarre….. and there’s 15 months to go.
September 20th, 2007 at 3:13 pmYou miss the conservative mindset. Stress doesn’t cause suicide (or other mental illnesss, drug dependence, poverty, etc) - personal weakness does. So if a couple of weak pansies that can’t take it decide to remove themselves from our welfare rolls, all the better.
NOTE: Not my position.
September 20th, 2007 at 3:24 pmOuch - note that Welfare Rolls are circular Welfare Roles and taste great with butter and jelly.
September 20th, 2007 at 3:25 pmI think Sen Rodham Clinton is behind it. She has sealed her PhD dissertation too.
Comment by Great Americans — September 20, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
And we are STILL hearing the wingnuts wailing about that one. Funny how they squeal like wounded animals over Hillary sealing her college papers but support the right of our president to bury all records of his machinations for all time.
I don’t support ANY records belonging to the public being sealed indefinitely. Regardless of what party they come from.
September 20th, 2007 at 3:41 pmWhere and why is there some provision for a lone senator to secretly stop the legal process? This is stupid, like “double secret probation”. These archaic special rules are driving our democratic process into the ground.
September 20th, 2007 at 4:06 pmMiss Molly, why would Hillary’s College papers be considered as “belonging to the public”? I don’t get that.
September 20th, 2007 at 4:31 pmI just called Coburn’s office. I informed the staffer that I was calling from Tulsa, OK and said that I heard that there had been a secret hold placed on a recently introduced bill that would restore public access to presidential records and that Coburn’s name had been mentioned in relation to the secret hold. I asked if they had any comment on it. The staffer replied “I don’t know how that got out but it’s not us.” Does that count as being on the record denying it? (BTW, this is the first time I’ve ever spoken to anyone’s Congressional office. Is there anything special I should do in the future when trying to get an on-the-record affirmation or denial?)
September 20th, 2007 at 4:56 pmThe office of Sen. Tom Coburn would like to state for the record that he is not holding this bill related to presidential records. It is true that he placed a hold on the bill following its passage through the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in June, but has since worked out his minor concern with the office of Sen. Joseph Lieberman at which time he lifted his hold.
If you have questions, please call our office at (202) 224-5754.
September 20th, 2007 at 5:04 pmOK, BlueMonkeyOK, we need a rep. Get the story and the rest of us can let the Senator’s staff get some rest. Start straffing again at 6:30 PM EDT if a full explanation is not forthcomming.
September 20th, 2007 at 5:40 pmWHat does it matter, Dumbsiht has to sign the fukcing thing, and won’t. So the whole bill is moot.
September 20th, 2007 at 11:51 pmAs for the media, just bomb fox news.
Its an Executive Order that can be changed by the next President. You would assume a Democratic President would do so, unless her name be Clinton. She might want to keep secret of some of her hubbies dealings.
Congress is obviously gridlocked until one side or the other has a clear and overwhelming majority. No sense getting worked up one of each failed attempt to do something. Maybe 2009 will be different. Maybe.
Back to the motive though. What might people think if they were to find out that TWA 800 was an AQ attack that was covered up because of impending elections and the upcoming Olympics. Could it be this is what Sandy Berger was removing from the archives? If so, the Republicans got the Dems by their golden nuggets. No wonder they are so timid. Imagine what peoples response would be?
They would conclude that 9/11 could have been prevented if only we were told that TWA was attacked by AQ, as we would have been motivitated to increase air security, so it’s all on the Democrats, even more than it already is. May the Democratic Party RIP if that were to happen. Yet, Republicans need a partner in crime to play the good cop bad cop game and maintain an illusion of a functioning Democracy.
Then there was Egypt Air Flight 990 where a co-pilot crashes the plane filled with Army officers (OBL has no love for them) into the ocean, or perhaps it was returning to NY to hit the WTC and was shot down. No evidence for this, but it makes you wonder if Clinton was suppressing news of the attacks for political reasons, and in the 990 flight might have prevented one, while Bush may or may not have prevented one and didn’t, and since has been hyping any suspected new attacks, real ones or invented, again for political reasons.
Given the level of secrecy in government today, we may never learn what actually happened over the past 20 years, and will be forced to reply on the official history. Historians exist to correct the official history, but to do this, they need access to government records that they may never have again.
September 21st, 2007 at 1:48 am