GOP Pushes To Air Health Bill Talks On C-Span
The top U.S. House Republican said Wednesday it would be “a disgrace” if Democrats ignored President Barack Obama’s campaign commitment to broadcast negotiations on the health care bill on C-SPAN.
“Let’s be clear,” House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a news release. “Skipping a real, open conference would shut out the American people and break one of President Obama’s signature campaign promises.”
C-SPAN has emerged as an unlikely player in the health care debate. Obama and congressional Democrats have thus far resisted Republican demands to broadcast negotiations on television, skirting a promise the president made during the lengthy 2008 presidential campaign. But Brian Lamb, the CEO of C-SPAN, sent a letter Tuesday to top members of Congress asking to broadcast the conference negotiations.
Adding fuel to the fire, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and other top Democrats have signaled that they will bypass a traditional House-Senate conference as they meld the two health care bills.
House Democratic leaders Tuesday did not directly respond to inquiries about C-SPAN’s request to broadcast such proceedings.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is ratcheting up the pressure in his chamber, circulating a letter to be sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that urges the live C-SPAN broadcast. The letter currently has 23 co-signers.
“To ensure that the American people have the ability to witness the on-going negotiations between the House and Senate, be it a formal or informal conference process, we ask that any negotiations regarding a final health care reform bill be conducted in the light of day,” Thune wrote in the letter, obtained by POLITICO.
“The chairman of C-SPAN, the network responsible for broadcasting the deliberations of Congress, has offered resources to cover all negotiation sessions live. We urge you to take him up on this offer.”
Sources: Politico, C-Span, Youtube
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