Florida has one of the strongest open meeting laws in the country.  Floridians believe that the people have a right to know what their representatives are doing.  That is why our open meeting law guards against back-room deals and secret negotiations by government officials.

I have introduced  H. Res 847 to bring that same level of transparency to Congress.  In less than 24 hours more than 100 bipartisan House members co-sponsored my resolution to open health care talks to the public.  My resolution would put the House on record against secret, closed-door deals on health care reform legislation.

When I introduced this resolution on the floor of the House, I said Democracy thrives best when the people are fully involved and engaged.  My resolution demands that the crucial decisions made on a health care bill that will affect 1/6 of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) be conducted under the watchful eye of those that really matter - the American people.

For days we have all watched a small group of Democrats in Congress, along with members of the Obama Administration, meet on Capitol Hill behind closed doors.  Secret meetings that have excluded not only most members of Congress, but also the American people.  This has happened despite President Obama's repeated pledges prior to the election that these kind of discussions would be open and televised. 

I agree with the Capitol Hill newspaper that called these secret talks "a slap at . . .the taxpayers who will be asked to foot the bill for whatever reform plan does get adopted."

Let The Sunshine In!!!