Response from Gwen Moore
Seeing as I posted the original message, it's only fair to say I recently recieved a response from Congresswoman Moore. Basically, she says that House Democrats are helpless against a GOP majority determined to prevent criticism of the administration.

The full text:

Dear Mr. Smars,

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about certain actions and activities of the Bush Administration. I appreciate hearing from you and share your concerns.

In the last year, numerous accusations have emerged questioning the President's justification for going to war in Iraq, including allegations that he and others in his Administration misled Congress and the American people. Recently, it has also been revealed that the President authorized the National Security Agency to spy on Americans without court approval which appears to conflict with the law. I am extremely concerned about these revelations and have cosponsored several measures, called "resolutions of inquiry", the passage of which would allow Congress to begin to get to the bottom of these allegations. A resolution of inquiry is a House procedure to seek factual information from the executive branch.

However, attempts to use this means to get the facts from the administration on these issues have been rebuffed by GOP-controlled committees and the House GOP leadership. When the House International Relations Committee considered a resolution which I cosponsored, H. Res. 375, calling on the White House to turn over information regarding the Downing Street Memo, it was voted down 22 to 21. It is highly unlikely that the House GOP leadership will allow H. Res. 375 or any other inquiry resolutions to receive further consideration.

I am a cosponsor of H.Res. 641 which would direct the Attorney General to submit to the House of Representatives all documents in his possession relating to the NSA's surveillance of telephone conversations and electronic communications of persons in the U.S. A similar resolution of inquiry was recently rejected by the House Judiciary Committee.

I would vote for these resolutions were they permitted to come before the House for a vote. But the simple truth is that the GOP-controlled House and its leaders have clearly demonstrated that they will not ever allow them to be brought up for debate. I will continue to support efforts to get the facts behind all these matters, in my belief that getting to the truth is critical for our nation and our democracy.

Regarding the appointment of a special prosecutor, the provisions of federal law governing the appointments of "independent counsels" expired in 1999. No new independent counsels may be appointed by a special three-judge panel at the request of the Attorney General, as had been provided for under the statute. However, the Attorney General could appoint a "special counsel" to conduct investigations and or prosecutions on behalf of the United States. Unlike statutory "independent counsels," the conduct of investigations by "special counsels" would be under the contro! l and review of the Attorney General.

It is important that Congress and the American people have all the facts about some of these programs authorized by President including whether or not he directly contravened specific statutes. Congress must exercise close scrutiny to ensure that in pursuit of terrorists or suspected terrorists, the Executive Branch is not secretly and needlessly breaking the law in order to erode the rights of U.S. citizens.

Thanks again for contacting me.

Sincerely,
Gwen Moore
MEMBER OF CONGRESS