lan to operate the government after a terrorist attack.

This time, DeFazio is joined by two other Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee who wrote to a top Bush administration Homeland Security official requesting access to the information. The White House refused to provide it to DeFazio earlier this month, offering no explanation beyond national security concerns.

After The Oregonian reported the situation a week ago, the story spread rapidly across the Internet, linked from more than 250 blog postings and political Web sites.

"We can think of no basis for you to deny members of the Committee on Homeland Security the opportunity to review this document in a secure setting," states the letter signed by DeFazio; Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the committee; and Rep. Chris Carney, D-Pa., chairman of the Homeland Security oversight subcommittee.

The letter was addressed to Frances Townsend, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism.

DeFazio wants to read the secret file after hearing from constituents concerned about a conspiracy. The public portion of the presidential directive lays out general policies for operating the government during a major catastrophe, but it referred to classified portions.

According to the letter, White House staff had initially said it would provide the document to Homeland Security Committee staff so DeFazio could review it. But on July 18, White House staff, the congressmen wrote, "informed the committee that the request had been reconsidered and rejected. In fact, the committee staff was told the document is 'close hold,' and 'frankly we are not willing to share it.' "

"This response is as troubling as it is shocking," wrote DeFazio and the other Democrats.

Members of Congress are allowed to view classified material in a secured room in the Capitol, provided they do not disclose the contents.

"In addition to the standard oath of secrecy taken by all members of Congress, members of the Committee on Homeland Security are required to sign an oath agreeing not to disclose any classified information received during the course of their service on the Committee," the congressmen wrote.

In a written statement, White House spokesman Trey Bohn would not say why DeFazio was denied access: "We do not comment through the press on the process that this access entails. It is important to keep in mind that much of the information related to the continuity of government is highly sensitive."

DeFazio's dispute points to a broader tension between the White House and members of Congress, who say they are not provided with information they request from the executive branch.

"I'm trying to think of one piece of information this administration has actually supplied to me that it hasn't first put out on CNN," Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., said in a recent interview, citing requests for information about whether helmet liners were being provided to the National Guard to requests for evidence of weapons of mass destruction