The secret's out -- Cheney task force met with oil and gas groups

In a recent posting, The Barrel noted that the claim of executive privilege shielding the work of Vice President Cheney's 2001 energy task force from public scrutiny remains in place, despite Cheney's (short-lived) denial that his office is part of the Executive Branch.

However, thanks to a leak of a list of participants to The Washington Post by an unidentifed former White House official, it turns out that the task force relied heavily on -- wait for it -- oil and gas companies and industry trade groups to help formulate the administration's energy polices.

Actually, occasional disclosures over the years indicated as much. Which came as no surprise, considering the extent to which the administration's policies reflect much of what industry long advocated. All the task force really had to do was check a few web sites.

In 2004, the US Supreme Court upheld the privilege claim, and the vice president continues to "resolutely" maintain the importance of keeping the deliberations confidential, the paper reported.

According to the list, the task force met with 68 groups or individuals representing energy interests, including 42 oil and gas groups. What's not clear, as Charles A. Samuels, outside counsel to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers told the paper, is why the administration "fought so hard to keep it secret." Samuels said he is sure that the vast majority of meetings were very policy-oriented, which is "exactly what should take place."