Cheney Energy Task Force

Since April 2001, Rep. Waxman and Rep. John Dingell, ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, have been seeking information about the energy task force headed by Vice President Cheney. This request for information was prompted by news reports that the task force had met privately with major campaign contributors to discuss energy policy. The Bush Administration has been unwilling to provide that information, even to the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress. (Last Updated March 15, 2005)

Latest News

GAO Releases Final Report on Cheney Energy Task Force

Reps. Waxman and Dingell and Sens. Lieberman, Hollings, Levin, and Dorgan release GAO's final energy task force report which details the refusal of the White House to provide even basic information on the task force's operations.

Rep. Waxman on the Implications of GAO's Decision

Rep. Waxman gave remarks about the serious implications of GAO's decision to abandon its efforts to obtain Cheney task force records.

GAO Decides Not To Appeal Decision

The General Accounting Office announced that it would not appeal a Dec. 9, 2002, ruling that dismissed its lawsuit seeking records of Vice President Cheney’s energy task force.

Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit

A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit filed by the General Accounting Office in which it sought to obtain access to records of the White House energy task force chaired by Vice President Cheney.

Justice Department Responds to GAO Brief

The Justice Department files a brief with the court responding to GAO's latest brief regarding a motion to dismiss.

Senator Reid Urges Finding in Favor of GAO

Sen. Harry Reid files an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief urging the court to decide the case in favor of GAO.

GAO Responds to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss

GAO files its reply to the Justice Department's motion to dismiss.

Bush Administration Contacts with Enron

Rep. Waxman released a report which identifies 112 contacts between Administration officials and Enron in 200, based on documents and other information disclosed by the Administration, press stories, and Enron’s 2001 lobbying disclosure reports.

Administration Asks Judge to Dismiss Lawsuit

The White House files a motion in court asking the judge to dismiss GAO's lawsuit.

Energy Report Draft Shows Task Force Considered California

Rep. Waxman has obtained a draft table of contents for the National Energy Plan dated Feb. 21, 2001 which makes specific reference to addressing the California energy crisis. Rep. Waxman asks Vice President Cheney to explain why the task force apparently considered and abandoned plans to address California's energy problems.

EPA E-mail: Energy Report Tried "Desperately" to Avoid California

Rep. Waxman asks Vice President Cheney, Energy Secretary Abraham, and EPA Administrator Whitman to explain an e-mail produced by EPA which indicates that the report released by the Vice President’s task force tried “desperately” to avoid mentioning California, the state with the most pressing energy crisis facing the country at the time.

Judge Enters Scheduling Order

The U.S. District Court judge hearing the GAO suit sets the schedule for briefs and oral argument.

GAO Files Motion for Expedited Decision

GAO filed a motion seeking an expedited decision from the judge hearing its lawsuit against the Vice President. GAO's motion for summary judgment argued that, since there are no factual disagreements, the suit should be decided on its legal merits in favor of GAO.

GAO Asks for Expedited Ruling in Lawsuit Against Vice President

GAO files a motion in U.S. District Court for summary judgment in its energy task force records lawsuit against Vice President Cheney.

Energy Plan Recommendations Benefit Campaign Contributors

A new report prepared for Rep. Waxman shows that 65 specific recommendations in the White House energy plan benefit top energy industry campaign contributors.

GAO Files Suit for Information on Contacts with Outside Parties

GAO filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to obtain access to information about the task force's contacts with outside parties. This is the first time that GAO has filed suit against a federal official in order to obtain access to records. In a statement released the same day, GAO said that it took this step "reluctantly" but added that "given GAO's responsibility to Congress and the American people, we have no other choice."

EPA Memo Shows Objections to Energy Plan

In a letter to Vice President Cheney, Rep. Waxman discloses an internal EPA memo that calls key portions of the White House Energy Plan “inaccurate,” “overly simplistic,” and “misleading.”

Reps. Waxman and Dingell Describe Precedent for GAO's Energy Task Force Investigation

In a 10 page letter to the Vice President, Reps. Waxman and Dingell detail the extensive precedent for GAO's requests for White House energy task force records.

GAO Will Go to Court to Obtain Energy Task Force Records

In a letter to Rep. Waxman, David Walker, head of the General Accounting Office, announces that GAO will sue the Administration to obtain access to records of the White House energy task force chaired by Vice President Cheney.

Waxman Releases Draft Version of White House Energy Plan

In a letter to Vice President Cheney, Rep. Waxman inquires about one of the provisions in the final White House energy plan that benefited Enron: the recommendation regarding natural gas development in India, where Enron had a large facility. This provision is absent from the version of the plan drafted by the State Department. It appears to have been added to the plan during final revisions made under the direction of the White House.

Reps. Waxman and Dingell Urge GAO to Proceed with Lawsuit

Reps. Waxman and Dingell sent a letter urging GAO to proceed with a lawsuit as a result of the Administration's refusal to cooperate with the Cheney Energy Task Force investigation.

Four Senators Urge GAO to Proceed with Investigation

Four senior Senators urged GAO to continue investigating the energy task force, saying that "Americans have the right to know how the Administration's energy policy was developed." The letter was signed by Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joseph I. Lieberman, Commerce Committee Chairman Ernest F. Hollings, Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl M. Levin, who is also chairman of the investigations subcommittee of Governmental Affairs, and Byron L. Dorgan, chairman of the Commerce Committee's consumer affairs subcommittee.

Report Details How White House Energy Plan Benefitted Enron

Rep. Waxman sends Vice President Cheney a report showing that 17 policies in the White House energy plan were advocated by or benefitted Enron. Rep. Waxman's letter urges the Vice President to release information about White House contacts with Enron.

GAO to Decide on Filing Lawsuit Against the White House

GAO announced it expected to decide within a month whether to file a lawsuit against the White House. This would represent the first time that GAO has had to take the executive branch to court to obtain access to information.

White House Discloses Enron Contacts; Waxman Seeks Additional Information

Responding to Rep. Waxman's December 4 letter, the White House reveals repeated contacts between Enron executives and the White House energy task force. Rep. Waxman writes Vice President Cheney to seek information about the topics discussed during the six meetings with Enron executives disclosed by the White House.

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