Follow the money for intelligence oversight

Leaders of the soon-to-be Democrat-controlled Congress should resist breaking their first campaign promise and instead rise above cynical political power-grubbing.

Last month, Democrats released an ambitious roster of legislative changes they would make in the first 100 hours they controlled Congress. Key among them — echoing scores of Democratic election campaigns — was remedying the failures of the GOP-controlled Congress, which left undone many of the 9/11 commission's recommendations. But last week, the Washington Post reported, congressional leaders are saying, "Not so fast," to a proposal to reform Congress' oversight of intelligence agencies. The proposal would add authority for appropriations to the intelligence committees' existing oversight. That way, members of Congress overseeing the agencies also would have the power to fund them and more sway to shape policy.

Think about that. Intelligence committee members receive top-secret briefings on an overreaching program by the administration. They might not like it but they can't do anything about it or tell anyone who can. Now give them funding authority. See the checks and balances work.

However, under the latest change, some power would be stripped away from the defense appropriations committees.

Four former members of Congress sat on the 9/11 commission, including Washington's former Sen. Slade Gorton, who served on the Senate Intelligence Committee for two years. They know the obstacles but underscored this particular recommendation's significance.

"Of all our recommendations, strengthening congressional oversight may be among the most difficult and important," the panel wrote. "So long as oversight is governed by current congressional rules and resolutions, we believe the American people will not get the security they want and need."

The commission's investigation found 88 full and sub-level committees had some jurisdiction over intelligence committees. After its report, Congress reduced that number to 79 — still a far cry from the two to four Gorton says the panel suggested.

It would be a very cynical exercise if power-grabbers are successful at the expense of safety and more efficient and effective congressional oversight.

Democratic leaders should keep their campaign promise to implement the 9/11 commission recommendations — including this prickly but critical reform of Congress.