Political Quotes

“First of all, I want to begin by thanking Chairman Issa for supporting this legislation and for making this a bipartisan effort. The Presidential and Federal Records Act Amendments is aimed at giving the American people access to the records Presidents create while they are in office. Under the Presidential Records Act, a President has discretion to restrict access to his records for up to 12 years after he leaves office. After that time, a President can continue to restrict access to his records by arguing that the records are protected by executive privilege. The Presidential Records Act does not currently include guidelines for the consideration of Presidential privilege claims. This bill would amend the law by adding procedures to ensure the timely release of Presidential records. Under the bill, current and former Presidents would have up to 90 days to object to release of records or those records would be released. The Presidential and Federal Records Act also would require that any assertion of privilege by a former President be affirmed by the incumbent President or through a court order. The bill we are considering today also makes clear that the right to assert the privilege is personal to current and former Presidents, and that they not be bequeathed to assistants, relatives, or decedents.…”