McCaskill says put cameras in the House and Senate for health care debate

[The Northerner]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Democratic senator says party leaders should open health care negotiations to C-SPAN cameras, echoing Republicans who have called for greater transparency.

Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill said in a statement on Friday that hundreds of hours of debate on health care have been open and further talks between the House and Senate should be on C-SPAN.

C-SPAN chief executive Brian Lamb sent a letter to congressional leaders this week asking for the talks to be opened to cameras. As a candidate, President Barack Obama pledged during a January 2008 debate that negotiations would be on C-SPAN.

Democrats say they have kept Americans informed throughout the process. Republicans have criticized them for taking the final, most crucial stage of the discussions behind closed doors.

Read more: http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=193343

[Donnachaidh]

1. I don't think they should have ANY un-televised meetings, period.

These backroom bullshit deals are wrecking this country. If they cannot write a bill in the open, then it shouldn't be written - period.

[Ticonderoga]

13. Seldom have I agreed with any repuke

but this is the exception. Televise the plunder for all to see.

[nightrain]

2. knr. And it isn't likely to happen unfortunately... too much sunlight

would permit the masses to see who the Congresspeople are beholden to. Gotta maintain the image that they're working on our behalf.

[varelse]

3. Transparency in government

wasn't that someone's campaign promise?

Seemed like a good idea at the time, I guess :shrug:

[No Elephants]

16. Yes, but the entire health care process on C-Span was a more specific promise.

The debates were never on C Span and probably never will be.

[UpInArms]

4. McCaskill is a gun-toting 2nd Amendment

"moderate" DINO that refuses to stand up for any Democratic principles.

So far, she has refused to respond to any correspondence and (imho) might as well be a Republican.

Maybe there is a surprise - but so far, she is one huge disappointment.

:sigh:

[Mermaid7]

5. That may be so...

but I still believe that we as The American People, deserve to see all the deliberations and who stands for what we get.

[donco]

6. She beats the hell out of Jim Talent. nt

[UpInArms]

9. well, no-Talent was a piece shit

who lied like a rug - but that was no surprise. I just grow extemely weary of these creatures that are one-trick-ponies.

She was a great auditor for the state of Missouri. I won't dispute her strengths. Her weakness is that she has no spine and truly represents the spineless ones ...

I am reminded of an old saying ...

"when you stand for nothing ... you fall for anything."

I heard her crap-weasel advertisments and statements

"I support the 2nd amendment and I am a conservative - abortion should be made illegal"

:puke:

this person is something else. you can decide what that is.

I just wish she were someone that I could support.

[VermeerLives]

20. So what?

She's right about this one. Citizens are entitled to know what's going on behind closed doors, and we certainly have a right to know what our representatives are discussing regarding this bill. These hearings should be televised for on C-Span for EVERYONE to see. Obama promised that would be done several times during his campaign, in case anyone cares to remember......someone needs to slap Pelosi upside the head for her stupid comments the other day.

[Faryn Balyncd]

7. 2+

[greennina]

8. That would destroy our hopes of progress!

Our leaders need to concentrate on making things better, not looking good on camera. The Republicans would love to have cameras because it would slow real progress. They don't want anything fixed.

[BP2]

10. I'd agree with you, but because so much has

been taken out that Barack campaigned on, I want to watch what they do
so we can scream bloody hell if they take more out.

[TheEuclideanOne]

11. SO WHO IS STOPPING IT?

Obama said it a number of times and my understanding, correct me if I am wrong, is that the President can't do this. The speaker of the house, on the other hand, can. So is this Nancy's call? Personally speaking, I don't think it would really make a difference, but then again maybe if these Congressman and Senators knew that they had to go on record to do these deals, they would think twice. It is easy to be a scumbag when you know that nobody is watching. Heck, alot of these politicians do it even with people watching.

The bottom line is that if Obama said it over and over again, why hasn't it happened? If it is because of Nancy Pelosi, let her explain why. If it is Obama's call, why would he say it so many times if he had no intention of doing it?

[midnight]

12. Absolutely... This is so HISTORIC that it should be recorded for the world,

and future generations to see this history in the making....

[jillan]

14. I can understand why they don't because of the repukes - but we are making history here and history

will sound better saying the final debate was televised rather then done behind closed doors.

[wordpix]

15. kick and GO CLAIRE - we pay Congress' salaries, & they hide their work from us

this would never fly in any other type of business - well, on Wall St. it happens, but almost no other business

[No Elephants]

17. All the important deals--health insurers and big health providers-have already been made.

Now, it's only House v. Senate, so televising that is not as big a deal.

[Stumbler]

18. Debating in front of a camera is the least they can do..

I'm still in favor of requiring their suits to be covered by the logos of the corporate interests they truly work for, just like NASCAR does.

[naaman fletcher]

19. Every room in the capitol should have cameras and sound streamed to internet 24/7