CREW Asks 'Is the Vice President Creating a Fourth Branch of Government?'

[bigtree]

With Cheney's Refusal to Follow Executive Order on Classified Information: CREW Asks 'Is the Vice President Creating a Fourth Branch of Government?'

WASHINGTON, June 22 -- In light of new revelations that Vice President Cheney is claiming that his office is not subject to an executive order governing the handling of classified information because as president of the Senate he has both legislative and executive duties, CREW asks if Vice President Cheney is attempting to create a fourth branch of the government?

Under his argument, if Mr. Cheney is not subject to executive branch
security requirements, surely he must be subject to Senate rules.

To safeguard sensitive information, in 1987 the Senate created the
Office of Senate Security, which is part of the Secretary of the Senate.
The Security Office's standards, procedures and requirements are set out in
the Senate Security Manual, which is binding on all employees of the
Senate.

So, if Mr. Cheney is a member of the Senate, he must adhere to the
following:
-- a requirement that any of his staff needing access to classified
information undergo a security clearance and complete written non-
disclosure agreements;
-- physical security requirements, that the Security Office is empowered
to implement, including any necessary inspections;
-- investigations of suspected security violations by employees, such as
the security violation committed by Scooter Libby when he unlawfully
disclosed the identity of Valerie Plame Wilson, then a covert CIA
operative.

In addition, Mr. Cheney and his staff would be subject to investigation
by the Senate Ethics Committee, which has the responsibility to investigate
allegations of improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate,
including violations of law and the rules and regulations of the Senate. (important point)

Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and
Ethics in Washington said Mr. Cheney's arguments raise new questions:

"Since there is no fourth branch of government to which Mr. Cheney
could belong, by claiming the Office of the Vice President is within the
legislative branch does Mr. Cheney agree that he is subject to Senate
security procedures?"

"Mr. Cheney's office refused to describe its 2003 classification
activities to the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA), but
is he now willing to describe them to the Senate Security Office?"

"If Mr. Cheney does not believe that NARA's Information Security
Oversight Office can conduct on-sight inspection of Mr. Cheney's office to
see how sensitive material is handled, does he agree that the Senate
Security Office can conduct such an inspection?" (another important point)


http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/29166

[bryant69]

1. Fourth and Fifth actually

The Office of the vice President - Executive

and

The Office of the Vice President - Legislative

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[jobycom]

2. I think he's just trying to eliminate the other three. nt

[wtmusic]

3. No, he's entitled to all the benefits of both branches

but none of the responsibilities. Yes, that's it.

[cassiepriam]

4. No. He is trying to tell us that he is the one and only branch.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. Cheney has been a government unto himself since day 1 nt