Watchdog: What Ever Happened to the Civil Liberties Board?

Now why would we need one of those?!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11677336/site/newsweek/

Newsweek:

March 13, 2006 issue - For more than a year, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has been the most invisible office in the White House. Created by Congress in December 2004 as a result of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, the board has never hired a staff or even held a meeting. Next week, NEWSWEEK has learned, that is due to finally change when the board's five members are slated to be sworn in at the White House and convene their first session. Board members tell NEWSWEEK the panel intends to immediately tackle contentious issues like the president's domestic wiretapping program, the Patriot Act and Pentagon data mining. But critics are furious the process has taken this long—and question whether the White House intends to treat the panel as anything more than window dressing. The delay is "outrageous, considering how long its been since the bill was passed," said Thomas Kean, who chaired the 9/11 Commission. "The administration was never interested in this."

Renewed concerns about the White House's commitment came just a few weeks ago when President Bush's new budget was released—with no listing for money for the civil liberties board. Alex Conant, a spokesman for the Office of Management and Budget, denied to NEWSWEEK the White House was trying to kill the panel by starving it of funds. "It will be fully funded," he said, explaining that the board wasn't in the budget this year because officials decided not to itemize funding levels for particular offices within the White House. When a reporter pointed out that funding for other White House offices such as the National Security Council were listed in the budget, Conant said: "I have no explanation."

The funding snafu is only the latest setback. Kean said the 9/11 Commission had pushed hard for the board to ensure that some agency within the government would specifically review potential abuses at a time vastly expanded powers were being given to U.S. intel and law-enforcement agencies. But the White House, and congressional leaders, resisted and sharply restricted its scope, denying the board basic tools like subpoena power. Bush didn't nominate members of the board until June 2005—six months after the panel was created—and they weren't confirmed until last month. The chair of the board is Carol Dinkins, a former senior Justice official under Ronald Reagan and former law partner of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Dinkins did not respond to requests for comment.

—Michael Isikoff

I wouldn't hold my breath.

:eyes:

Two nominations:

http://www.velaw.com/lawyers/lawyer_detail.asp?H4AttyID=320976105
<snip>
Carol, nominated by President George W. Bush to chair the newly formed Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, chairs the firm's administrative and environmental law practice. She handles all aspects of client counseling on business transactions and permit matters, as well as civil litigation, mediation and criminal defense. Carol has represented chemical and energy companies, developers, timber, utilities, transportation interests and a variety of municipal and governmental entities in proceedings under state and federal environmental and natural resources laws. She maintains offices in Houston and Washington, D.C., and has served on the firm's Management Committee


http://www.ftc.gov/acoas/nominations/raulbio.htm
Alan Charles Raul
<snip>
"During his tenure as Associate Counsel to the President, Mr. Raul represented the White House in connection with the Iran-Contra investigations."

and three appointments:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/06/20050610.html
<snip>
"The President intends to appoint Lanny J. Davis, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Mr. Davis is currently a Partner with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP in Washington, D.C. He served as Special Counsel to the President at the White House from 1996 to 1998.

The President intends to appoint Theodore B. Olson, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Mr. Olson is currently a Partner with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP in Washington, D.C. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Olson was the Solicitor General of the United States. He previously served as the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice.

The President intends to appoint Francis X. Taylor, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Mr. Taylor currently serves as Chief Security Officer for The General Electric Company in Fairfield, Connecticut. From 2002 to 2005, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security and Director of the Office of Foreign Missions with the rank of Ambassador. Prior to that, Mr. Taylor was Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the Department of State with the rank of Ambassador at Large."