In early 2000, presidential nominee George W. Bush asked Dick Cheney to chair the selection committee for his VP nominee.  Many were interviewed. One was selected- and surprisingly to many of us the candidate was none other than Cheney himself. 

Part of Bush’s July 25, 2000 statement read:  I picked him because he is without a doubt fully capable of being President of the United States and he will be a valuable partner in a Bush administration.  

How prophetic.  You see, Dick Cheney is not only the defacto President, he has managed to create a 4th branch of government. 

We don’t know who is working in the OVP, or even how many.  It is estimated that approximately 88 staffers work in the OVP, and he has the largest staff ever for a VP.  Who are they?  When asked, a spokesperson for the VP said, “We just don’t give out that kind of information.”

 The Plum Book is published every 4 years.  It lists the every position in the federal government that is assigned to a political employee. Rather than give the information to the publishers of the book, Cheney’s office released this: 

The Vice Presidency is a unique office that is neither a part of the executive branch nor a part of the legislative branch, but is attached by the Constitution to the latter. The Vice Presidency performs functions in both the legislative branch (see article I, section 3 of the Constitution) and in the executive branch (see article II, and amendments XII and XXV, of the Constitution, and section 106 of title 3 of the United States Code).

The Information Security Oversight Office, which is responsible for the policy and oversight of the government's security classification system, has asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to direct Cheney's office to disclose statistics on document classification and declassification activity.  Cheney has refused.  His office says that he is not subject to the order because he is neither part of the executive branch or legislative branch.  And therefore, not accountable to anyone.   This is the quote from his deputy press secretary Megan McGinn to US News:  “This matter has been thoroughly reviewed and it has been determined that reporting requirements do not apply to the office of the vice president, which has both legislative and executive functions.”

How can Cheney be stopped?  Do we need a constitutional showdown? It may come to that, but I propose an easy and fast solution.  Congress needs to defund the OVP. If the VP will not tell the taxpayers (who are paying the salaries of the VP staff) who is working in the OVP, then Congress cuts off his staff.  Congress should also cut the funding for his housing. 

It is time for this administration to be brought back to reality. And if there isone thing that the Bush/Cheney cabal understands, it is the almighty dollar.