"Who" of News Story Left Out

A basic journalist tenet dictates that a reporter should supply the "who, what and when" of a news story. Of course, AP makes its own rules.

On Friday August 12, AP reported that "House GOP Members Urge Delay on ANWR." Twenty-four GOP representatives signed a letter to House Speaker Hastert asking that ANWR would not be included in the energy bill reconciliation debate. The budget reconciliation document, which has the force of law if approved and signed by President Bush, is not subject to filibuster.

Several committee chairs were identified, but the names of all twenty-four signers were not published or linked. FOX carried the AP story and did not link the names - evidently they were not available, since Fox links everything. A search of the Internet and a call to the Speaker's office did not uncover the names. One gentleman in the Speaker's office suggested I file a Freedom of Information request.

Are the names available; and if not, are the signers avoiding notoriety to "cover their collective asses and escape what would be an avalanche of emails as gas approaches $3.00 a gallon?

Are we seeing here, politicians as "gutless wonders" - escaping accountability, but still pandering to enviros? Stay tuned as we exercise our need-to-know.