home

Where's the Oversight Board?

By TChris, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 02:59:53 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

by TChris

The LA Times calls attention to another of the Bush administration's unkept promises.

Initially proposed by the bipartisan commission that investigated the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board was created by the intelligence overhaul that President Bush signed into law in December 2004.

More than a year later, it exists only on paper.

Foot-dragging, debate over its budget and powers, and concern over the qualifications of some of its members -- one was treasurer of Bush's first campaign for Texas governor -- has kept the board from doing a single day of work.

What's taking so long?

"They have stalled in giving the board adequate funding. They have stalled in making appointments," said Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.). "It is apparent they are not taking this seriously."

The members were selected last year, but the board can't function without a chairman, and it took the Bush administration several months to submit the president's choice (Bush family friend Carol Dinkins) for Senate approval. The president hasn't expressly budgeted funding for the board in 2007. Do you get the sense that the Bush administration isn't eager to experience meaningful oversight?

< Gas Up | A Protest in Oakland >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Where's the Oversight Board? | 2 comments (2 topical)
    Re: Where's the Oversight Board? (none / 0) (#1)
    by Steven Sanderson on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 05:03:58 PM EST
    Do you get the sense that the Bush administration isn't eager to experience meaningful oversight? No, not at all. Bush will get to it after he's done helping the R's in Congress reform the ethics rules.

    Re: Where's the Oversight Board? (none / 0) (#2)
    by The Heretik on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 08:23:31 PM EST
    Ah, when the time comes to put up or shut up, some people refuse to put up and then tell others to shut up. Oy.

    Where's the Oversight Board? | 2 comments (2 topical)