April 10, 2002
8:12 AM Subscribe
Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge won't testify before Congress (NYTimes link) but will testify before Lou Dobbs Moneyline?
Oh don't be a twit. Ridge has offered to brief congress, even answer their questions in informal meetings. He just hasn't offered to have a "formal" hearing. Your linked articles make that much clear.
posted by revbrian at 8:18 AM on April 10, 2002
posted by revbrian at 8:18 AM on April 10, 2002
fwiw he is going to testify before a closed door House Appropriations subcommittee as reported by US News.
posted by zoopraxiscope at 8:20 AM on April 10, 2002
posted by zoopraxiscope at 8:20 AM on April 10, 2002
"Senator Robert C. Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia, rejected an offer today by Tom Ridge, director of the Office of Homeland Security, to give briefings rather than formal testimony to Congress on how the administration is strengthening domestic security."
It sure sounds as if Ridge is afraid to go on record...
> fwiw he is going to testify before a closed door House
> Appropriations subcommittee
...but that now he's been shamed into doing something. Still, he's making sure he won't be required to show the public his lips mouthing what he is afraid to go on record as saying.
posted by pracowity at 8:26 AM on April 10, 2002
It sure sounds as if Ridge is afraid to go on record...
> fwiw he is going to testify before a closed door House
> Appropriations subcommittee
...but that now he's been shamed into doing something. Still, he's making sure he won't be required to show the public his lips mouthing what he is afraid to go on record as saying.
posted by pracowity at 8:26 AM on April 10, 2002
Apparently, the Bush White House wants to treat Ridge like the National Security Adviser and make Homeland Security another fiefdom within the federal government that isn't under the same Congressional oversight as Cabinet level positions. This story does a good job of explaining the conflict.
We don't need more of government in the dark. Ridge should appear before Congress to address issues such as the visas the Sept. 11 terrorists received recently. The homeland isn't made more secure by shielding him from oversight.
posted by rcade at 8:58 AM on April 10, 2002
We don't need more of government in the dark. Ridge should appear before Congress to address issues such as the visas the Sept. 11 terrorists received recently. The homeland isn't made more secure by shielding him from oversight.
posted by rcade at 8:58 AM on April 10, 2002
the visas the Sept. 11 terrorists received recently
I agree with you rcade, but it has been misreported that the terrorists received visas post-9/11. They received their student visas last summer. In March, the flight schools they attended received paperwork informing them of that fact. There is a difference. (source)
posted by jpoulos at 9:36 AM on April 10, 2002
I agree with you rcade, but it has been misreported that the terrorists received visas post-9/11. They received their student visas last summer. In March, the flight schools they attended received paperwork informing them of that fact. There is a difference. (source)
posted by jpoulos at 9:36 AM on April 10, 2002
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posted by Postroad at 8:18 AM on April 10, 2002