Bush should be open about Enron
"Congressmen of both parties have been demanding
that the administration release documents pertaining
to Enron's role. The nonpartisan and well-respected
General Accounting Office, Congress' official watchdog agency, has been seeking similar information.
But so far, the administration has refused to
cooperate, forcing the GAO and congressional
leaders to consider lawsuits. "
OUR OPINIONS:
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Friday, January 25, 2002
There is no evidence --- not even a suggestion --- that members of the Bush
administration intervened improperly on behalf of Enron as the company's
finances unraveled. In the absence of such evidence, members of congressional
investigating committees now sniffing around the scandal --- most of them
Democrats --- ought to be a little more measured in their remarks.
So far, this is a financial scandal and an accounting scandal and a political
scandal only to the degree that politicians --- including some of those now doing
the investigating --- helped defang the regulatory system and the checks and
balances that might have prevented it. None of that occurred in the still-short
time that President Bush has served.
On another topic, however, the Bush administration does need to be more
forthcoming, and congressional committees have a right and even an obligation
to press the president for answers.
Enron officials met at least six times with members of an administration task
force headed by Vice President Dick Cheney that was charged with formulating
a new energy policy for the country.
Congress is now being asked to enact that policy into law. However, given
Enron's willingness to use campaign donations to leverage change in government
policy, it is appropriate for Congress to inquire into the company's role in
task-force decisions.
Congressmen of both parties have been demanding that the administration
release documents pertaining to Enron's role. The nonpartisan and
well-respected General Accounting Office, Congress' official watchdog agency,
has been seeking similar information. But so far, the administration has refused
to cooperate, forcing the GAO and congressional leaders to consider lawsuits.
Such a step would unnecessarily escalate an already tense situation. The Bush
administration should provide Congress the documents that it seeks. Without
that information, senators and representatives will have a hard time knowing how
much of the Bush energy proposal is good policy and how much, if any, was
inserted to placate a politically powerful company eager to throw its weight
around in the nation's capital
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