Biden discloses records to agencies that Cheney often rebuffed

[babylonsister]

After criticism, Biden discloses records to agencies that Cheney often rebuffed
By Kevin Bogardus - 02/24/10 07:28 PM ET


Vice President Joe Biden has been disclosing records and cooperating with federal agencies that Dick Cheney often rebuffed.

Biden’s actions are consistent with his comments on the campaign trail, where he criticized then-Vice President Cheney for not providing the information. And Biden seems to be putting an end to the George W. Bush administration’s assertion that the vice president is not solely part of the executive branch.

“Vice President Cheney was more comfortable behind the scenes and working the levers of power, while Vice President Biden is much more of an outside figure,” said Joel Goldstein, a constitutional law professor and vice presidency expert at St. Louis University. “I think Vice President Cheney often used the constitutional vagueness of the position to avoid accountability. One of the hallmarks of the Biden vice presidency has been its transparency.”

Many experts on the vice presidency believe it’s a return to what has been standard practice for the office.

Cheney was often criticized for his claim that the vice presidency was a part of the both the legislative and executive branches of government. The vice president presides over the Senate and can cast a tie-breaking vote on legislation in the upper chamber if need be. That role, along with receiving a paycheck from the Senate, served as Cheney’s evidence that he was also part of the legislative branch.

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On the 2008 campaign trail, the then-Delaware senator would blast Cheney’s secrecy. In the vice presidential debate, Biden also went after the theory that the vice president is part of both the legislative and executive branch.

“The idea he’s part of the legislative branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive — and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous,” Biden said in the debate.

A spokesman for Cheney declined to comment. Others said his stand against disclosure was a fight on principle to protect the executive branch.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/83547-biden-discloses-information-to-agencies-cheney-rebuffed

[Jennicut]

1. The VP shouldn't really be part of both branches of govt.

Way too much power.
I am happy to see Joe bring the VP back to what is used to be.