Congress looks to move up the biological ladder

Congress, in a move that may signal an end to the era of the "potted plant" (I would use another analogy having to do with getting its rhymes with "halls" back but this is a family blog "Hi Ma!").

Anyway, last week congress passed three bills.

• A bill that overturns a Bush Executive Order that overturned a prior bill (stick with me) that gave Presidents 12 years to turn over all papers. W's Order allowed President's to keep their papers confidential indefinitely and, for the first time, extended "Executive Privilege" to the VP and gave him the same power. Plus, it extended the right to keep public information private to the dead through their designees. The House brought the sunshine, put the pressure on the President to prove why the papers have to be secret, plus allowed sitting President's to override former President's decision to keep papers private, and took away the VP's new superpower. Just a big chunk of Presidential Kryptonite. W threatened to veto, but the bill passed with more than enough votes to override. I'm a huge fan of this bill.
• The next bill increased protection for Whistle Blowers. Again under veto threat, can't have people letting the citizens know when the government is messing up, how unimperial. Again, passed with enough to override. Again, big fan.
• The third bill wasn't that big, but is designed to speed requests for info under the Freedom of Information Act. Still, I like it.

Overall, three good bills, all designed to give the citizen more oversight and showing signs of life from congress. Granted, none is particularly groundbreaking, but, you know, baby steps.