When it became apparent that some members of Congress had already decided to move forward with their own investigations into the response to Hurricane Katrina, the House and Senate leadership decided to preempt such inquiries in favor of a so-called "bipartisan and bicameral" panel. Now, as CQ Today's Midday Update (free email service) reports, the Democrats are saying to to such a move, which they believe would be a whitewash for the administration.

Congressional Democrats today announced that they will not participate in a bicameral review committee heralded by the Republicans as the vehicle by which Congress will examine the government response to Hurricane Katrina.

Although GOP leaders from both chambers yesterday described the panel of senior lawmakers as “bipartisan,” they did not agree to an even party split for the membership or equal subpoena powers for Republicans and Democrats.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said today that they will not appoint members to the committee. “It’s not bipartisan,” Pelosi said. “We have no idea what this committee is about.”

Pelosi characterized the committee as a “charade” that would “whitewash” the government’s disaster response.

Instead, both Democratic leaders continued to call for creation of an independent commission modeled on the Sept. 11 commission to examine the Katrina response.

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., dismissed the Democratic criticism and said an independent commission is not needed because Congress can do the job.

One has to wonder why the Republicans would be so concerned about an independent panel that would investigate what went wrong. Why are they so worried or apprehensive?