What is the Presidential Papers Act and how does Bush*

[Bandit]

get away with ignoring it? The Presidential Papers Act is an Act of Congress that says all Presidential Papers must be released no later than twelve years after that person has left office. They can be released eight years after but MUST be released after twelve years have gone by. Bush* has decided he doesn't need to follow that LAW. What exactly does it take to change an Act of Congress and how did Bush* do it. Both Reagan's papers and Bush 1's papers should have been made available to the public by Law. Why has it not been so and why is no one asking about them?

[cynatnite]

1. by executive order...

On November 1, 2001, President Bush issued an executive order entitled “Further Implementation of the Presidential Records Act.” His order effectively overturned an act of Congress and a Supreme Court decision and could make it far more difficult for Americans to learn of government abuses. Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor, declared that the executive order “effectively rewrote the Presidential Records Act, converting it from a measure guaranteeing public access to one that blocks it.”

http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0501c.asp

[zanne]

2. I remember that.

It was one of the first shocks to my system. I yearn for the pre-2000 election days of innocence.

[SutaUvaca]

4. One of my first shocks too

I learned about this in 2002 I think, and as I recall the article I was reading pointed out that Chimp had signed the offending pResidential order in time to also prevent the release of his fathers pResidential papers as well. What the Skull and Bonesers in high office have been up to for many years is not intended for us peons.

[eShirl]

3. sounds like "legislating from the Oval Office" (n/t)