Bush administration misconduct hearings: Liveblog Part 4

By GottaLaff

Rep. Brad Miller (D-N. Carolina): Bush administration's secrecy is sinister, not just a claim to powers. It eliminates challenge. Informed criticism is democracy. Democracy dies behind closed doors. The many disputes between Congress and the president, every committee has been stiffed by him, won't be resolved by January, but we must continue our effort and restore balance of power regardless of who's president, which party is in office. HR 6508 bill would allow House to appoint a special prosecutor for criminal contempt of Congress, which is cosponsored by me, Conyers, others. Bolten, Miers: Mukasey argued executive privilege. I'm working with Feingold to remedy this [paraphrased]...

Walter Jones (R-North Carolina): Signing statements. This hearing is about trust. Americans should have access to signing statements that could affect how laws are executed. Congress should be able to call for explanation and justification of signing statements. Bush has issued at least 152 of them, with over 800 Constitutional challenges/objections. Congress should act now. I've introduced the Presidential Signing Statetments Act [reads it].