In a Reversal, Senate Intelligence Panel to Release Vote Tallies
The Senate Intelligence Committee announced that it will now disclose which senators vote for or against measures and nominations in committee, chipping away at a panel tradition of secrecy that government watchdogs say has shielded members from public scrutiny.
Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein of California and ranking Republican Saxby Chambliss of Georgia released a statement late Thursday saying their committee will announce breakdowns of how senators voted on measures in panel markups.
We have discussed the matter of reporting the results of committee votes on official matters such as legislation and confirmations taken in closed session and agree that such information will be made public, Feinstein and Chambliss said.
The announcement came after questions to Feinstein and Chambliss this week about the justification behind the panels long-standing policy of withholding its vote tallies.
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