Congress Denies Public Access to Research

[PSU84]

Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) December 16, 2003

Ohio Representative Ney wants the public kept in the dark

The Congressional Research Service spends about $73 million a year preparing highly regarded reports for lawmakers. The service, a division of the Library of Congress, employs some 700 to dig up the facts on everything from electronic voting to stem-cell research. It has developed a fine reputation for presenting the information in a distinctly detached and objective fashion. Members of Congress often use the information to make important decisions.

The material is great stuff. The trouble is, the public cannot gain access. Essentially, the decision was made by Bob Ney, a Republican from St. Clairsville who chairs the House Administration Committee, which oversees the research service. The ranking Democrat on the committee agreed with Ney, ending a two-year pilot program that made indexes of the reports and the full texts available on the Web.
Ney's reasoning? There are times when the facts requested by a member might not fit the position he or she has already staked out in public.

<snip>
Just imagine the horror if the facts got in the way. Actually, Ney's principal objection appears to be giving opponents access to free research. Those citizens who paid for the research in the first place? The Ney response seems to be: Who cares? Another brave stand from the congressman who ordered ''Freedom fries'' and ''Freedom toast'' to be served in the House cafeteria after the French objected to the military intervention in Iraq.

<snip>
Rep. Christopher Shays, a Connecticut Democrat, and Jay Inslee, a Democrat from Washington, are backing a bill to again make the reports fully available on the Web. But Ney, describing the reports as confidential staff research, is saying nay.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/editorial/7502361.htm

[tom_paine]

1. Ah, the creeping Totalitarianims of Imperial Amerika continues apace

Makes perfect sense...totally in keeping with Bushevik Totalitarianism.

And who cares if the Imperial Subjects furnished the money for the research? Imperial Subjects exist solely for the use and pleaure of the Imperial Class.

Imperial Subjects are also made to be kept in the dark because they cannot handle information beyond television commericals.

Yes, that's how the Busheviks think of us.

Maybe they're right.

[tom_paine]

2. This is an important story confirmed

:kick: :kick: :dem: