Appeals court tosses Cheney Energy Task Force lawsuit

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Appeals court tosses Cheney lawsuit
Groups had sought records from energy task force
The Associated Press
Updated: 12:10 p.m. ET May 10, 2005

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7804571/

WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court on Tuesday ordered dismissal of a lawsuit seeking to force Vice President Dick Cheney to reveal details about the energy policy task force he headed and the pro-industry recommendations it made.

The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously found that two private groups that sued Cheney failed to establish that the federal government had a legal duty to produce documents detailing the White House’s contacts with business executives and lobbyists.

The lawsuit, filed by the Sierra Club and Judicial Watch, alleged that energy industry officials effectively became members of the task force, while environmental groups and others were shut out of the meetings. They also argued the task force was a federal advisory committee with an obligation to publicly disclose its operations.

The appeals court disagreed. “There is nothing to indicate that nonfederal employees had a right to vote on committee matters or exercise a veto over committee proposals,” the judge said.

[spindoctor]

1. So much for freedom of information

:wtf:

[cyberpj]

2. Judge who exonerated Cheney is on the payroll of Exxon

http://www.legitgov.org/news_cheney_task_force_judge_051005.html