Dems Push Obama to Declassify Snooping Rules

Want access to legal opinions justifying executive power to collect people's information

Four House Democrats have teamed up with privacy advocates to protest a "secret law" that they say authorizes spying on some Americans' emails and online messages.

The lawmakers, organizations and former administration officials told the White House in a recent letter that the Obama administration should declassify "all current and future legal opinions" or legal interpretations that permit spying under a controversial executive order.

They also urged President Obama to ban "disproportionate or unnecessary" collection of people's messages, Internet chats and other communications.