This morning, President Obama has taken another action that strikes at the heart of our system of government.  He asserted his executive privilege in an attempt to further stonewall a congressional investigation into the Fast and Furious gun running operation that led to the death of, Brian Terry, and American citizen.

The President and I have not agreed on much when it comes to policy since we were both sworn into office in January of 2009, but one area where I believed we had common ground was on the importance of the rule of law and transparency in government.  In fact, the President made government transparency a cornerstone to his presidency stating,

Information will not be withheld just because I say so; it will be withheld because a separate authority believes my request is well-grounded in the Constitution.  Let me say it as simply as I can: transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of the Presidency.

With these recent actions, it has become painfully clear to me that we no longer see eye to eye on this topic.  Brian Terry’s family deserves the truth; whatever that may be.  In the same respect, the American public deserves transparency and confidence that any Administration, regardless of party, will operate in a straightforward fashion.  President Obama has chosen to go a different direction. That is deeply disappointing and I urge him to reconsider this decision.

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