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Article: Official secrets: ; Don't stifle information
- Article from:
- Charleston Gazette
- Article date:
- August 30, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2001 Charleston Gazette. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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OPEN government is crucial in any democracy. When government
officials start thinking they have the right to operate in secrecy,
legitimate democracy is threatened as the government forgets the
source of its power: the people.
But the battle for the public's right to know is eternal. A new
skirmish awaits: On Sept. 5, the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee
will debate the House-passed "Official Secrets Act." This bill would
make it a crime for a government official to disclose any
unauthorized information, even if there is no harm to national
security.
Congress passed this bill last year, but President Clinton wisely
vetoed it. President Bush, unfortunately, has indicated he would
sign it.
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