kristopher,
The new policy sounds very much like what is done with classified information.
As a rule, individual Congressmen / Senators do not get individual access to classified information.
However, certain members of Congress are the "gate keepers" for the rest of Congress with regard to classified information. For example, in the arena of defense and intelligence, Congress has the "gang of eight", who are the chairman and ranking members of both Parties for the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees.
In a way; this mirrors how classified information is handled in the Administration and Executive Branch. A person doesn't get access to classified information just because they have the clearance level for it. Suppose a document is classified at the "Secret" level and a person has a "Secret" level clearance. That person doesn't automatically get access to the classified information.
Someone in the Department's management chain has to certify that the person has a "Need to Know". It's not "Wants to Know", it's "Needs to Know". Someone has to certify that there is a damn good reason for the person to have access to the information. If it is really necessary for the person to do his/her job; then they have a "Need to Know".
Congress has been without this additional check and certification that all other people with access to classified information have. I really have no problem with the Committee Chairman and Ranking Member providing this "Need to Know" certification function.
Congress and their staffers leak like a sieve in most cases; and when it comes to sensitive information from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; I think it is in the best interest of all to have these additional controls on information.
PamW
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