C-SPAN Challenges Congress to Open Health Care Talks to TV Coverage

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The head of C-SPAN has implored Congress to open up the last leg of health care reform negotiations to the public, as top Democrats lay plans to hash out the final product among themselves.

C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb wrote to leaders in the House and Senate Dec. 30 urging them to open "all important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings," to televised coverage on his network.

"The C-SPAN networks will commit the necessary resources to covering all of the sessions LIVE and in their entirety," he wrote.

Congressional leaders, however, reportedly are expected to bypass the traditional conference committee process, in which lawmakers from both parties and chambers meet to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill. Instead, The Associated Press reports that top Democrats at the House, Senate and White House will figure out the final product in three-way talks before sending it back to both chambers for a final vote.

This format would seem ideal for closed-door meetings, which congressional Democrats have used many times to figure out sensitive provisions in the health care bill -- though President Obama pledged during the campaign to open up health care talks to C-SPAN's cameras.

"That's what I will do in bringing all parties together, not negotiating behind closed doors, but bringing all parties together, and broadcasting those negotiations on C-SPAN so that the American people can see what the choices are," Obama said at a debate against Hillary Clinton in Los Angeles on Jan. 31, 2008.

Asked about the request to Congress, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said he hadn't seen the letter.

"I know the president is going to begin discussions today on health care to iron out differences between the House and Senate bills," he said.

Lamb urged Congress in his letter to fling open the doors in the final stretch of the negotiations.

"President Obama, Senate and House leaders, many of your rank-and-file members, and the nation's editorial pages have all talked about the value of transparent discussions on reforming the nation's health care system," he wrote. "Now that the process moves to the critical stage of reconciliation between the chambers, we respectfully request that you allow the public full access, through television, to legislation that will affect the lives of every single American."

Lamb said his network would use "the latest technology" to be "as unobtrusive as possible" during the talks.

Right Wing Link

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Bill, you know why they are going this route...to prevent the Republicans from stalling the bill further. We can't they just accept defeat? Sour sour grapes.

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

Bill, you know why they are going this route...to prevent the Republicans from stalling the bill further. We can't they just accept defeat? Sour sour grapes.

c-span is run by the republicans? wow i didn't know that!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Most Transparent Administration and Congress Ever.

[SMOKE 1,426]

c-span is run by the republicans? wow i didn't know that!

yes, thats why obama didn't broadcast the entire heathcare takeover there like he promised.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

For the Right Wingers...have some tissue.

[SMOKE 1,426]

For the Right Wingers...have some tissue.

save it for your kids....they're going to be the one crying when they find out daddy supported this.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

save it for your kids....they're going to be the one crying when they find out daddy supported this.

So what part of the bill do you not like?

Edited January 5, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[SMOKE 1,426]

So what part of the bill do you not like?

i can't comment on that...same as you...nancy & harry are still rewritting it behind closed doors.

[Kevin and 10]

Bill, you know why they are going this route...to prevent the Republicans from stalling the bill further. We can't they just accept defeat? Sour sour grapes.

That still doesn't explain why they are having it behind closed doors. Republicans don't have to attend or be invited, but they can still televise the meeting.

[SMOKE 1,426]

That still doesn't explain why they are having it behind closed doors. Republicans don't have to attend or be invited, but they can still televise the meeting.

that would mean the people would know what they're adding to it or taking out of it.....& we can't have that.

[natty bumppo 297]

That still doesn't explain why they are having it behind closed doors. Republicans don't have to attend or be invited, but they can still televise the meeting.

cause people reading/watching it ... understanding it .... will slow them down

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i can't comment on that...same as you...nancy & harry are still rewritting it behind closed doors.

Riiight. The Republicans in Congress tried to filibuster the Senate Bill. This is nothing more than partisan poor sportsmanship. The final bill will not be anything significantly different than the one that the Senate passed...no thanks the partisan hacks on the other side of the aisle.

When the President finally signs the bill...and he will, the Republicans who fought so hard against health care reform will pay at the polls.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That still doesn't explain why they are having it behind closed doors. Republicans don't have to attend or be invited, but they can still televise the meeting.

Because the health insurance lobbyists and their cohorts in Congress will do everything in their power to construe what will transpire in such a way to try and scare voters, which then make the Blue Dog Dems that are up for re-election nervous. This is all a partisanship game on both sides....it's just that the Republicans are finally getting beat at their own game and it's given them indigestion.

[Kevin and 10]

Because the health insurance lobbyists and their cohorts in Congress will do everything in their power to construe what will transpire in such a way to try and scare voters, which then make the Blue Dog Dems that are up for re-election nervous. This is all a partisanship game on both sides....it's just that the Republicans are finally getting beat at their own game and it's given them indigestion.

Aren't they going to anyway? Having secret meetings, on either side of the aisle, just raises more questions and opens the conspiracy argument.