Cheney continues to refuse to hand over classified records
By Freddie Mooche
(AXcess News) Washington - Vice President Dick Cheney continues to refuse to hand over classified records to the National Archive after ignoring a presidential order saying that his role as president of the Senate makes him a member of the legislature and therefore exempt from having to comply.
But lawmakers are growing tired of Cheney's dual copout saying that as a member of the Bush administration he is duty bound to follow through on President Bush's own order.
It's gotten to the point where Democrats are threatening to cut off funds for Cheney's office as well as his official residence in Washington until he complies with the executive order and gives the National Archives his records.
A Cheney spokesperson said Democrats were "just playing politics" when members of the House threatened Tuesday to cut off funding for the Vice President's office.
A presidential order handed down by Bush that executive branch offices provide data on how much material they classify and declassify has set off a tirade of objections from Democrats who on Tuesday in the House of Representatives said they will try to strip some of his funding. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md) said the proposal could come up for a House vote as early as Thursday.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) called Cheney's refusal to hand over classified documents "the height of arrogance." Feinstein's comments came Sunday during a Fox News interview in which she planted the idea that lawmakers might cut off the Vice President's funds if he did not comply with the executive order.
But White House Press Secretary Tony Snow has come to Cheney's defense, saying that as Vice President, Cheney has no specified executive activities and that Cheney is the president of the Senate.
"The President makes the decisions in the White House; the Vice President is an advisor," said Snow. "We also make a careful point, as we've said many times, to allow those deliberations to remain confidential."