Lawmaker Denounces Plan For Secret, Closed Door Deliberations; Calls For C-SPAN TV Coverage

FLEMINGTON, NJ -- On the heels of reports that Democratic Leaders are planning secret health reform deliberations, Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today called on top leaders in the House, Senate and White House to come out from behind closed doors and conduct the health care reform negotiations in public view.

“With final votes in the House and the Senate the health care reform debate has moved into a critical stage of reconciling the bill into one final measure,” Lance said. “Normally, this is done in a public Conference Committee under the watchful eye of C-SPAN. Yet all signs indicate that leaders will reject televising these important proceedings. The American public should be outraged.”

According to press reports, Congressional Democrats are expected to bypass the traditional conference committee process for merging House and Senate versions of legislation. Instead they are opting for closed negotiations between leaders from the two chambers and the White House. This in spite of President Obama’s pledge to open up health care talks to C-SPAN.

“I support President Obama’s campaign pledge to keep the health care reform process transparent – complete with C-SPAN cameras,” Lance added.

Last October Lance became an original sponsor of H.Res. 847 — a measure that would put the House of Representatives on record against secret, closed-door, backroom deals on health care reform legislation.

H.Res. 847 states, "Resolved, that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that any conference committee or other meetings held to determine the final content of sweeping national health care legislation be held in full public view and not behind closed doors."

“The health care reform bill is a measure that will affect the lives of all Americans. I urge leaders in Washington to negotiate the final health care reform bill in an open and transparent way so that the American people will truly know what is in the final bill,” Lance concluded.

###