GAO Cites Corporate Shaping of Energy Plan

[kimchi]

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 26, 2003; Page A01


The White House collaborated heavily with corporations in developing President Bush's energy policy but repeatedly refused to give congressional investigators details of the meetings, according to a federal report issued yesterday.

The General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, said in the report that Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham privately discussed the formulation of Bush's policy "with chief executive officers of petroleum, electricity, nuclear, coal, chemical and natural gas companies, among others."

An energy task force, led by Vice President Cheney, relied for outside advice primarily on "petroleum, coal, nuclear, natural gas, electricity industry representatives and lobbyists," while seeking limited input from academic experts, environmentalists and policy groups, the GAO said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44891-2003Aug25.html

Didn't see this anywhere, mods, but I could be wrong.

[donotpassgo]

1. Noooooooooooooooooo! I didn't see this coming.

.

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. Where's the outrage?

eom

[kimchi]

3. That's what I want to know.

I'm printing this out and slapping it up all over town. Freakin EVIDENCE of this admins lying, secrecy, and oil lust, and no one seems to care. We all knew it, and now there is proof.

[gristy]

4. Here's the report on this in today's NY Times

Study Confirms Stakeholders Gave Advice to Energy Panel

<snip>
In releasing this final report, Mr. Walker (of the General Accounting Office), who is in the 5th year of his 15-year term, said today in an interview, "This was the first time in the history of the agency that we were absolutely stonewalled and the first time during my tenure that we haven't been able to reach a reasonable accommodation with the subject."
<snip>
Still, he said, he would monitor other suits that seek access to the panel's deliberations and would be prepared to act. But, Mr. Walker noted, the litigation "is likely to go on for years."
<snip>

Here's my short view on all this:
1. I have quite a bit of respect for the GAO and those who work there.
2. It will be interesting to see if a Dem President pursues Cheney on this in 2005.