WASHINGTON — Rep. Vern Buchanan on Tuesday gained a high-profile ally in his bid to prod congressional leaders to open up health care negotiations to the public.
In a letter to President Barack Obama and House and Senate leaders, the chief executive officer at C-Span urged greater openness and said the cable television network was prepared to cover talks with the “latest digital technology to make the cameras, lights and microphones as unobtrusive as possible.
“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,” C-Span CEO Brian Lamb 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.’’
Buchanan, who has filed a resolution calling for open negotiations, lauded C-Span and called on Congress to accept the offer, though congressional leaders appeared reluctant to do so.
“With so much at stake, any conference committee or meetings held to determine the content of sweeping national health care legislation should be held under the watchful eye of the American people, not behind closed doors,” Buchanan said.
