2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumSince when did DEMOCRATS support blocking IG access to ALL records?
I heard this on one of the shows this morning. It was really wonderful to hear the Republican they interviewed criticizing a lead Democrat for blocking IG access to ALL records. Since when didn't ALL mean ALL? They said there was BIPARTISAN support for the bill to clarify that ALL means ALL. Yeah, this is really going to play well with average Americans. I'm sure it will help decrease the percentage of people who view our government as corrupt.
I can see the election ads now...
And last year, in an especially dark day for government accountability, the Justice Department ruled that some federal information can be denied to the IGs.
The IGs, led by the inspector general for the Justice Department, immediately protested, correctly warning that the ruling flouted the clear language of the act that created their offices. The ruling also makes no sense because IG investigations routinely respect confidential information.
As one might expect in a conflict over the interpretation of a broadly supported law strengthening congressional oversight, the reaction on Capitol Hill was immediate. Iowa Republican Charles Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, last year introduced bipartisan legislation to clarify and restore IG access to all pertinent documents in an investigation.
Yet this seemingly slam-dunk bill has gone nowhere.
Why?
As finally reported last month, Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has been blocking it. He put a hold on the bill, and when asked about that move, merely hinted that he is acting for one or more members of the minority.
http://www.postandcourier.com/20160413/160419736/reid-keeps-transparency-on-hold
tonyt53
(5,737 posts)This is a slap on the jowls of the GOP.
aspirant
(3,533 posts)it's past time to hear us roar