When President Obama and the Democratic Congressional majorities began their now long, drawn-out efforts to pass health care reform legislation, the president promised the process would be marked by unprecedented transparency. Not only would the public be fully briefed on the content of discussions, they would also be able to watch them on C-SPAN.
Yet after a year of dirty backroom deals, opaque negotiation processes and the production of a pair of convoluted bills inaccessible to the layman, such words ring hollow. Indeed, the president himself has belatedly acknowledged that locking the public out of key discussions has been a mistake.
Despite this admission, however, evidence of a change of tack is notable for its absence. Obama adviser David Axelrod seemed to be boasting on ABC News on Sunday when he said “people will never know what’s in that bill until we pass it.”
On Sept. 30, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), one of several medical doctors in the Republican minority, requested the president provide information on every meeting he and his staff have participated in on health care reform. After months of receiving no response, on Dec. 16, Burgess introduced H.R. 983—a “resolution of inquiry” to formally request information on the health care meetings. Burgess’ inquiries have yet to receive acknowledgement from the White House.
According to House rules, Burgess’ resolution must be marked up by the committee of jurisdiction within 14 legislative days, which will shortly be up, or it becomes a privileged resolution. A privileged resolution would allow Burgess to bring the resolution to the House floor for a vote at any time. The Democratic House leadership, not wishing to lose control of the floor schedule, will hold a mark-up in the Energy and Commerce Committee today under the chairmanship of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.).
Waxman has contacted the White House urging them to respond to Burgess. Even for Democrats, the lack of courtesy in failing to acknowledge the Texas Member’s request is perturbing. The line likely to be taken by Democrats in the House, however, is predictable: Requests for information eat up so much time and so many resources that they must be weighed carefully before being accepted. This is effectively an attempt at a polite brush-off so that business as usual may resume and the public will continue to be frozen out.
Transparency continues to be promised, but instead we have an administration that seems to operate under a kind of omertà.
David Archer is a freelance writer, a business risk analyst and a public affairs consultant.