Editorial: Guardians of secrecy
Friday, July 20, 2007 | 7:22 a.m.
Vice President Dick Cheney and members of a special task force routinely sought input from petroleum officials and other energy industry leaders in creating the nation's energy policy, and virtually shut out those who might have offered differing views.
Cheney and President Bush have closely guarded information about the meetings, which began in 2001, and a 2004 U.S. Supreme Court decision has allowed them to keep the information secret.
But a former White House official provided the list of names and dates to The Washington Post, which published the information in a story on Wednesday. Officials from such entities as Exxon Mobil and British Petroleum, and, of all people, Enron's Kenneth Lay , were afforded one-on-one time with Cheney's task force.
Environmentalists, however, were herded into a one-time meeting in April 2001, the Post reports, and Cheney didn't bother to attend.
Such reports are not new, as some of the names have leaked out over the years. But as the task force's activities remain protected by court order, the documents submitted to the Post illustrate that the Bush administration's energy policy, including efforts to make Nevada the nation's dumping ground for nuclear waste, has been orchestrated with significant input from industries that not only stood to gain from those policies, but also were generous financial supporters of Bush's campaign.
Cheney and Bush have fervently guarded the names and dates regarding what were considered routine policy discussions. It is clear, now, why such secrecy was desired. Industry officials, it seems, have crafted our nation's energy policy with the support and outright protection of Cheney and Bush.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Kruger hoping his team will play with grit
- Pricing out wagers on the Pacquiao-Cotto fight
- RTC bus driver fired, arrested after allegedly attacking woman
- Two second-graders involved in shooting at bus stop
- CityCenter Realtors hit with cut in commissions
- Privé owner files for bankruptcy protection in Florida
- Trainers scuffle at Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto weigh-in
- Shanghai’s maglev: Flying with both feet on the ground
- Hooters reports loss, says Chapter 11 possible
- Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs among stars in Las Vegas for Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight
Blogs
The Kats Report
New face of Monte Carlo includes all the faces of Caliendo
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (5 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Harry Reid's fourth TV ad begins running today
The Greene Room
Chad Ochocinco vs. Anderson Silva? That would be a sight ... (4 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: The three stages of chefdom
Calendar »
- 14 Sat
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
-
Pacquiao vs. Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
MGM Grand Garden Arena | 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Friends of India Diwali Celebration at Cashman Field with Dan Nainan
Cashman Field | 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Norm MacDonald at the House of Blues
House of Blues
-
Boulder City Art Guild Winter Fest Fine Art Show
Boulder City Parks & Recreation
-
John Fogerty at the Star of the Desert Arena
Star of the Desert Arena | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s 5th annual Carnivale du Vin
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati








