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Action: Shine a Spotlight on the Senate |
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Via Secrecy News and Intel Daily.
An unidentified Republican Senator placed a secret hold on the Open Government Act, a bipartisan bill to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act, thereby preventing the Senate from acting on the bill this week.
Senator Patrick Leahy, a cosponsor of the bill, made the following comments on May 24th:
Regrettably, an anonymous Republican hold is stalling this important Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, legislation, needlessly delaying long-overdue reforms to strengthen FOIA and to protect the public’s right to know. It is both unfortunate and ironic that this bipartisan bill, which promotes sunshine and openness in our government, is being hindered by a secret and anonymous hold.
This is a good government bill that Democrats and Republicans alike, can and should work together to enact. I hope that the Senator placing the secret hold on this bill will come forward, so that we can resolve any legitimate concerns, and the full Senate can promptly act on this legislation.
This is a shame and the American people deserve to know which Republican Senator is responsible.
What can we do about it?
It is safe to assume that the Republican Senator who placed this secret hold was not one of the Republican Cosponsors, John Cornyn, Johnny Isakson and Arlen Specter. This leaves 46 Republican Senators who may be responsible. I’ve built a table below which lists these Senators and their phone numbers.
Inspired by a recent Sunlight Foundation Project, I’ve decided to leverage the dispersed knowledge of the Internet to determine which Senator placed this secret hold. The idea is simple: If you live in a state with a Republican Senator, call them and ask them if they were the one who placed the hold. The question you should ask is: “Did you place a secret hold on Senate Bill 849, the Open Government Act?”
Unfortunately, the Senate has just left for their week-long memorial day recess. You can make the calls now but it is important to call back on June 4th when the legislative session resumes. If you’d like to be reminded to make the call, send me an email at josh_nelson_513@yahoo.com and let me know which state you live in. I will then email you on the evening of June 3rd to remind you to make the call. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
Please leave a comment here and let us know who you have called and what response you get, if any. As the responses come in, I’ll fill them in on this table so we know where everyone stands. We should be able to get to the bottom of this shortly. Please help us spread the word on this project so we can determine who is responsible as quickly as possible.
Update 5/27 1pm EST
I have commitments to make calls on June 4th from people in eight states: Florida, Indiana, Maine, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Virginia. If you live in another of the relevant states, shoot me an email to get your reminder to make the call on June 4th.
Please be sure to comment here if you are willing to make the call(s) for your state.
Update 5/28 11pm
37 of the 46 Senators are now covered. The only states we still need people in are Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico and South Dakota. If you know someone in one of these states who may be willing to make the calls, please send them here.
| Senator | Contact | Secret Hold? | Covered? |
| Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) | (202) 224-5744 | ? | Yes |
| Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) | (202) 224-4124 | ? | Yes |
| Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) | (202) 224-3004 | ? | Yes |
| Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) | (202) 224-6665 | ? | Yes |
| John McCain (R-Arizona) | (202) 224-2235 | ? | Not Yet |
| Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) | (202) 224-4521 | ? | Not Yet |
| Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) | (202) 224-5941 | ? | Yes |
| Mel Martinez (R-Florida) | (202) 224-3041 | ? | Yes |
| Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia) | (202) 224-3521 | ? | Yes |
| Larry Craig (R-Idaho) | (202) 224-2752 | ? | Not Yet |
| Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) | (202) 224-6142 | ? | Not Yet |
| Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) | (202) 224-4814 | ? | Yes |
| Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) | (202) 224-3744 | ? | Yes |
| Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) | (202) 224-6521 | ? | Yes |
| Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) | (202) 224-4774 | ? | Yes |
| Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) | (202) 224-2541 | ? | Yes |
| Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky) | (202) 224-4343 | ? | Yes |
| David Vitter (R-Louisiana) | (202) 224-4623 | ? | Yes |
| Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) | (202) 224-5344 | ? | Yes |
| Susan Collins(R-Maine) | (202) 224-2523 | ? | Yes |
| Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota) | (202) 224-5641 | ? | Yes |
| Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) | (202) 224-5054 | ? | Yes |
| Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) | (202) 224-6253 | ? | Yes |
| Christopher S. Bond (R-Missouri) | (202) 224-5721 | ? | Yes |
| Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska) | (202) 224-4224 | ? | Yes |
| John Ensign (R-Nevada) | (202) 224-6244 | ? | Not Yet |
| Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire) | (202) 224-3324 | ? | Not Yet |
| John E. Sununu (R-New Hampshire) | (202) 224-2841 | ? | Not Yet |
| Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) | (202) 224-6621 | ? | Not Yet |
| Elizabeth Dole (R-North Carolina) | (202) 224-6342 | ? | Yes |
| Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) | (202) 224-3154 | ? | Yes |
| George Voinovich (R-Ohio) | (202) 224-3353 | ? | Yes |
| James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) | (202) 224-4721 | ? | Yes |
| Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) | (202) 224-5754 | ? | Yes |
| Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) | (202) 224-3753 | ? | Yes |
| Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) | (202) 224-5972 | ? | Yes |
| Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) | (202) 224-6121 | ? | Yes |
| John Thune (R-South Dakota) | (202) 224-2321 | ? | Not Yet |
| Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee) | (202) 224-4944 | ? | Yes |
| Bob Corker (R-Tennessee) | (202) 224-3344 | ? | Yes |
| Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) | (202) 224-5922 | ? | Yes |
| Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) | (202) 224-5251 | ? | Yes |
| Robert Bennett (R-Utah) | (202) 224-5444 | ? | Yes |
| John Warner (R-Virginia) | (202) 224-2023 | ? | Yes |
| Craig Thomas (R-Wyoming) | (202) 224-6441 | ? | Yes |
| Michael Enzi (R-Wyoming) | (202) 224-3424 | ? | Yes |
A cunning plan, a magnficent plan with two small flaws:
1) What if, by chance you call the right senator and pose the devillishly brilliant question, he doesn’t admit it?
2) What if, by chance you call the right senator and pose the devillishly brilliant question, he doesn’t admit it?
True, that’s really the same flaw, but it’s such an important one, I thought I’d mention it twice.
Steve
Then he will have lied to the american public, an offense which I believe is impeachable.
True, but at least something is getting done, right?
Why not go wild and make the three extra calls just to be sure, because you never know.
oh come now, who really gives a flying fuck?
the US is a police state
live with it, or get out is my advice
the rest of the world is laughing at you
stupid americans
It’s Ted Stevens. It always is.
At least they’ll know they’re being supervised by civil society!
Why don’t you spice it up by having a pool on who the miscreant is? I would make a guess that it’s Ted Stevens because putting spurious holds on bills, wasting money on pointless bridges and talking about pipes seems to be his primary jobs.
Good luck with this, though I’m doubtful it will actually work. Ted Stevens might be my guess too if I had to make a guess, a senator who runs as a conservative but wastes tax-payer money could lose a lot from an open government bill. If it is him, we can be sure he never finds out what you’re doing here on the intertubes.
Are you completely sure it’s not a Democrat though?
If the culprit is truly “unidentified” and “anonymous” as stated, how is it known that he/she is a republican?
Impeachable, I don’t know. But it would be terrible press, and I don’t think even the most corrupt Senator makes a habit of lying to constituants.
Now, why are these things even allowed? Secret holds seem hugely undemocratic if you ask me.
For those asking why we think it is a Republican:
Under procedure for placing these anonymous holds, the one thing you can tell is which party it is. Patrick Leahy, in his statement on the 24th, made it clear that the Senator responsible was a Republican.
I also think the senator doing this will lie to callers.
Perhaps, but when it comes out eventually who did this (and it will….) then we’ll know. And perhaps even get that fact some publicity.
Kudos for trying to hold those “running” our country resposible for their actions.
We care, ass fuck! Now shut up up and stay out of our bussiness if you dont like us. i personnally have no problem pretending you dont exist. =)
I will call Senator Allard in CO. I think it is good that this story sees the light of day.
Well, if you really think that there’s the potential for lying from Senators’ office, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to obtain a recording of said conversation. (LEGALLY THOUGH!) You’ll have to check state laws for specifics about recording phone conversations.
I’ll call David Vitter (LA)
Yes, I agree that it will eventually come out. Don’t forget to call Senator Lieberman of Connecticut even though he is a democrat.
@Drew (#2)
“Then he will have lied to the American public, an offense which I believe is impeachable.”
Nope…
According to the US Constitution (Article II, Section. 4) an impeachable offense comes down to:
“The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articleii.html
Unfortunately, simply lying to the public is not an impeachable offense. If a public official was under oath when the lie took place, that is a different story.
I’ll give Chuck in Iowa a ring, just be sure to send me an e-mail.
Thanks Bob, will do.
Okay, I’ll check with the North Carolina folks on June 4, I don’t need a reminder since I’ve got my computer set up with a little note.
Thanks Ted.
Lying to the American public is *not* an impeachable offense. Lying is not a crime unless it’s done under oath or to a law enforcement official.
Who’s to say Leahy isnt lying?
While us Americans share blame for allowing our government to behave as it does, YOU sir demonstrate TERMINAL stupidity by beleving that the only way to correct problems is to FLEE them.
If everyone who has emigrated from their home lands because of governmental problems would GO HOME, show some fucking BALLS, and STAND THE FUCK UP, all these problems would get fixed and you pussies wouldn’t have to run away shitting your pants in terror.
If we simply continue to flee, we will soon find there is no where left to flee TO.
Lying isn’t always lying when you’re in a government position especially when the response is carefully worded so as to be vague, answer your question with a question or hell he could just evade appropriately answering the question altogether. Politicians are very intelligent and VERY cunning. Believe me, I wouldn’t be surprised if all of the Senators called don’t give a straight answer and leave you hanging up the phone thinking…what the hell did that mean?!?
I find it a little immature and suspicious to call out the offending senator’s party affiliation so blatantly. I’m all about “outing” shady dealings like this in Government, but I tend to be cautious of individuals who use childish tactics to do it such as Senator Leahy demonstrates here with this statement. It just serves to widen the division between parties by doing it so blatantly. This severe “polarization” of the country with all these partisan attacks is serving no one except the politicians. I hope we find who put the hold on this bill, but I also hope that we’re not so blinded by this stupidity that we forget to hold Senator Leahy accountable for his blatant partisan, and incredibly immature, attack.
Well I would not go that far. well, I guess I would..
As a non American I can only say that we laugh at
Your silly paranoia re:terrorist attacks
Making people take off shoes before boarding flights (although in a monkey see monkey do approach the rest of the world seems to have followed you)
Your total inability to understand why you were attacked, even though it was pointed out by the 11/9 commission…(9/11 in the US)
I could go on and on but you will not believe it anyway.
you make some pretty bold statements about Americans, and hold a rather negative view of us, Butcher99. I would have to say such generalizations don’t reflect well on your ability to separate the truth from the noise. Americans are many different kinds of people, and to say “we” laugh at “you” is absolutely ridiculous. Who is “we”? Is that every non-American? Who is “you”? is that every American? I didn’t realize the globe’s population was so uniform, and so obedient to nationality.
Only 18 more to go! We need readers from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wyoming to step and help us out! If you live in these states, please drop us a line and let us know if you are willing to call your Senators to ask them about this secret hold.
Josh,
You’re welcome.
I did sign up but I live in California. Ron Paul might have an idea who might do such a thing.
Les
I am an Irish guy and I strongly disagree with alot of American policies but I agree with LGS. It is too easy for “us” to ridicule the U.S. people as ignorant to foreign affairs and to their own governments dealings. However, it is not just on the good people who are standing up and attempting to fix their beloved country. I have had the pleasure of visiting the states for a period of time and know first hand that alot of Americans are not happy with the road that the current government has brought their country. Good on you guys for standing up and making your senators accountable. I believe that if there were more sites like this you would go a long way towards achieving your goal, maybe even force your press to get some balls and report uncensored news. All the best. JK
Does anybody wonder why members of the senate are allowed to put SECRET HOLDS on pending legislation? What the hell is that all about? You’d think that they’d simply have the balls to ask for a hold and then say why!!!
I’m sorry all. I love all of my American brothers and sisters and think that you’re some of the most level-headed and generous people in the world today (or at least can be), but our government is out of control and doesn’t represent us in the least. These people who dupe us into voting for them; who dupe us into even being interested in them; most of them know nothing about how we live our lives, our values, nor our beliefs. Most of them know nothing about what it takes for the average man or woman to make a buck in this world of today. They use polls to find out just enough about specific demographic groups to manipulate the lot of us and play a numbers game. They pit us against each other on purely social issues while they go on dismantling the Constitution and devising more and more diabolical schemes for amassing more wealth on the backs of taxpayers. It’s time for a change in the biggest of ways. You can put that in your pipe and smoke it.
I’ll call in Alabama, please remind me though!
Very well put.
called sen hutchinson office girl on phone said “She does not have a hold on this bill.” “sen Hutchinson does not believe in putting holds on bills.”
So i said “Thank you for the information, But what if its a bad bill?”
girl on phone said, “we need to keep this line open for constituents.”
I said “I am a constituent.”
girl on phone says, “I cant say anymore about this.”
Any updates? This is their second day back now.
I believe the author of this secret hold has been revealed, it was Kyl:
http://www.azcongresswatch.com/?p=3202
But Josh knows more about it than I do. I’m sure he’ll have an update for us shortly.