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Promise To End Era Of Secrecy Is Broken

Promise To End Era Of Secrecy Is Broken

FEBRUARY 12, 2009

AS THE AMERICAN PUBLIC LOSES FAITH IN CONGRESS’ ABILITY TO MANAGE THE ECONOMY, DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP SHUTS THE AMERICAN PUBLIC OUT OF DEBATE

FLASHBACK: Speaker Pelosi in 2006: “We will create the most open and honest government in history.”

 

THEN:
Democrat Leaders Call for Openness and Transparency		 NOW:
Democrats Withhold Text of $800 Billion Stimulus "Agreement"
President Obama, January 21, 2009: "For a long time now, there's been too much secrecy in this city. The old rules said that if there was a defensible argument for not disclosing something to the American people, then it should not be disclosed. That era is now over." (Statement on January 21, 2009)

Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2006: "The intention of our Founding Fathers was for Congress to be a marketplace of ideas. The Republicans have turned Congress into an auction house – for sale to the highest bidder. You have to pay to play. It is just not right. Democrats are leading the effort to turn the most closed, corrupt Congress in history into the most open and honest Congress in history." (Remarks as prepared for delivery, January 18, 2006.)		 Congressman Chris Van Hollen TODAY with Jane Skinner on FOX “Happening Now”:

REP. VAN HOLLEN: …I think it is hard to argue that this bill has not had an unprecedented amount of public scrutiny, which has been a good thing, as result some of the things that were in the bill have come out and other items have been added in response to public input.

JANE SKINNER: Can you, real quickly Congressman, guarantee that there has been nothing added back and that had been taken out that will be upsetting or a surprise to anybody?

REP. VAN HOLLEN: Boy, around here, I cannot guarantee that.

White House Bulletin TODAY: "I would note that two days ago, House Republicans offered a motion requiring that the bill be posted online for at least 48 hours before any vote in the House or Senate. House Democrats unanimously agreed and voted with Republicans. Now, even before Democrats have finished writing the bill, it appears they are going to break their promise and rush this massive bill to the floor for a vote tomorrow."

New York Times: "[T]he final legislative language was not immediately available." (February 11, 2009)