Press Release |
Media Contact: Sally Tibbetts 941.951.6643 |
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EVERY FLORIDA REPUBLICAN CO-SPONSORS BUCHANAN SUNSHINE RESOLUTION |
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| October 27, 2009 | |||
| Washington, DC -- Congressman Vern Buchanan’s resolution to open health care talks to the public has won the unanimous support of 15 Florida House Republicans. “Like me, they believe we should work in the open under full view of the American people,” said Buchanan. “Not in secret. Not behind closed doors that exclude the American people.” Buchanan has invited Florida’s 10 Democrat House members to join the 15 Republican Florida lawmakers who have cosponsored H.Res. 847. The measure would put the House on record against secret, closed-door, backroom deals on health care reform legislation. “Florida has one of the strongest open-meetings laws in the country,” said Buchanan. “That’s why I introduced my Sunshine Resolution, which says no private meeting, no backroom deals, no secrecy.” Under Buchanan’s Sunshine Resolution, the conference committee that will draft the final bill would meet in the open to increase transparency and accountability. “Health care reform stands to impact one sixth of the nation’s economy, and any discussion involved deserves consideration by everyone,” said Congressman Ander Crenshaw (FL-04). “That’s why I so strongly support Congressman Vern Buchanan’s bill. If Congress is going to debate and vote on such an important issue, then the American public should know everything about it.” “The public deserves a front row seat as the congressional leadership develops health care legislation that would radically alter the health coverage of millions of Americans,” said U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns (FL-6). “Unfortunately, as with the stimulus legislation, the leadership in Congress is conducting these discussions behind closed doors, denying the American people the opportunity to see what is being done in their name.” “The people of Southwest Florida, and indeed the nation, deserve to know exactly what is in the health care reform legislation and how it will affect them and their families,” said Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14). “But sadly, the Democratic Leadership in Congress believes that the American people don’t need to bother themselves with the details, and in the past, we’ve seen countless bills altered in the dead of night behind closed doors. The American people – and our democracy – deserve better, and that’s why Congress should pass this important resolution without delay.” “The American people should not be shut out of this debate,” said Congressman Bill Posey (FL-15). “Opening up the process to public scrutiny will produce a better bill and re-instill some lost confidence in Congress as a transparent institution.” “What is the big secret?” asked U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-16). “I came to congress less than a year ago and closed door meetings has been the norm. So much for transparency, so much for bipartisanship. Why is Speaker Pelosi so afraid of letting the American people see what they are paying for?” “This massive new program that is being proposed will affect hundreds of millions of Americans and its impact is too important,” said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18). “This resolution will open the closed door meetings on healthcare reform and that is the right thing to do.” “If there is any issue where openness should be required, it is health care reform. It is sad that the Congressional majority and the White House are holding these discussions in secret,” said U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21). “The Vern Buchanan resolution seeks to put Congress on record against secret deals and in favor of sunshine.” U.S. Reps. Jeff Miller (FL-1), Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5), John Mica (FL-7), Gus Bilirakis (FL-9), Bill Young (F-10), Adam Putnam (FL-12), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) also cosponsored the resolution. Buchanan’s resolution has more than 120 cosponsors including three Democrats. |
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