General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Thank Representative Grand Theft Auto for the TPP Security--And Reid and Pelosi. [View all]joshcryer
(62,269 posts)...have open access to other members of congress confidential committee paperwork? You don't get that access without having an understanding with those on the committee. What happened was after USTR cracked down the complaints began, because they saw it as an opportunity to get open access to another committees paperwork. Rather than having to use usual channels, rather than having to make agreements with other congresspeople, rather than having to be in the know or have a mutual understanding about access.
The point is the confidential rating is super low, that people can make copies with the right clearance, and the usual channels were obviously open, because no one was making any complaints until after Issa's antics. They can't come out and say "hey, we get the paperwork through usual channels," because they're not technically supposed to. They wouldn't want their committee confidential paperwork in the wrong hands.
The "usual channels" is code language.