Lawmakers Approve Panel to Appeal Secrecy

WASHINGTON -- President Bush will soon sign a bill to create a place for members of Congress to appeal if they believe federal agencies are classifying too much in the name of national security.

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Trent Lott, R-Miss., pushed for the "Public Interest Declassification Board" after the Senate Intelligence Commitee wrestled with the CIA over how much of a scathing congressional report on the Iraq intelligence estimates could be made public.

The CIA initially classified half of the 500-page report. Eventually, 80 percent was released.

According to the legislation, the board will made up of nine national security experts -- five appointed by the White House and four appointed Congress' Republican and Democratic leaders

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-congress-secrecy,0,2827790.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

,...but,..."the people" deserve better than this.

They really do.

Remember the pending two thirds rule that will relegate the minority party to two thirds membership in every congressional committee?