Homeland security group to meet away from public eye

[YankeyMCC]

(snip)
update A new advisory committee in the Homeland Security Department is free to disregard a law designed to keep meetings open and proceedings public, according to a departmental notice.

The newly created Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council is charged with sharing information aimed at protecting the nation's infrastructure, cybercomponents included. Michael Chertoff, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, cited security reasons when he signed off on exempting the council from the Federal Advisory Committee Act, or FACA.

The decision, which many private-sector players had strongly recommended, was released in a departmental notice published Friday.

The council, which plans to meet at least quarterly, will bring together various federal agency employees and private-sector representatives to discuss the Department of Homeland Security's infrastructure protection plan, which remains in draft form. The fields represented range from agriculture and energy to information technology and telecommunications. Participants include the U.S. Telecom Association, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association and Internet infrastructure services provider VeriSign.
(snip)


http://news.com.com/Homeland+security+group+to+meet+away+from+public+eye/2100-7348_3-6053795.html?tag=nefd.top

Ever get the feeling you've slipped into life inside a science fiction story?
This is getting to be not just scary but redundant folks.

[teryang]

1. The corrupt cronies make their plan to slice the pie, secretly.

Then no one can complain about the violations of federal contracting regulations or other illegal plans.

[babylonsister]

2. "Free to disregard a law...." This sounds all too familiar. nt

[UpInArms]

3. What world was I living in when I was taught that government

was to serve the people and not the other way around?

[w4rma]

4. They are serving the people. Just a very very few people. (nt)

[salin]

5. So how many folks on this panel will pull a Richard Perle

and simultaneously sell themselves as consultants, or investment advisors (or in his case form an investment group and solicit investments) using their "expertise" as the hook, and their inside information as a means for wealth generation/profiteering.

[UpInArms]

6. isn't that what John AsssKKKrap is doing now?

[bobthedrummer]

9. Also Tommy Thompson eom

[wordpix2]

7. reminds me of Darth Cheney's secret meetings on energy policy

IMPEACH THE LYING CRIMINALS

[seafan]

10. Yes, this reminds me too, of Secret Energy Policy Meetings, version 2.

This is all one bad-A nightmare.

[jimshoes]

8. Didn't the dimwit make a speech

once about transparancy in government? Something like "Democracies are transparant" in the run-up to the Iraqnam quagmire. We have become the most secretive government ever, it seems.

[williesgirl]

11. Just sent following email to my Senators and Congressmen:

re: A new advisory committee in the Homeland Security Department is free to disregard a law designed to keep meetings open and proceedings public, according to a departmental notice.

The newly created Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council is charged with sharing information aimed at protecting the nation's infrastructure, cybercomponents included. Michael Chertoff, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, cited security reasons when he signed off on exempting the council from the Federal Advisory Committee Act, or FACA.

What the hell is going on now? How come anyone in this Administration can simply decide to "exempt" themselves from a law? Laws should be just that - laws. No exemptions. No signing stipulations.

Why do you guys keep passing these laws and then let anyone who feels like it just "exempt" themselves in some fashion? Congress is becoming a joke. And each of you is allowing it to happen.

Start working for the American people, have the guts to stand up to these criminals and DO YOUR JOB.

[HuffleClaw]

12. The decision, which many private-sector players had strongly recommended

that really says it all. what are they REALLY hiding from public view?