Boehner Introduces the House GOP Congressional Transparency Initiative

The American people have had it with business as usual in Congress. They are fed up with practices such as tucking special-interest provisions into bills behind closed doors, secretly changing bills without a vote, and passing bills no one has read. This has happened for far too long, but never before has the need for reform been more apparent than in the past year under Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and her Democratic majority.

Americans are demanding change in the way Congress works. Recognizing this, I and other reform-minded congressional Republicans this week will put forth a new transparency initiative a series of common-sense congressional reforms aimed at bringing some much-needed openness and accountability to the House.

In just 10 months, with help from the Obama White House, Speaker Pelosis Congress has taken business-as-usual to a devastating new extreme. The American people have watched Congress rush through a massive stimulus spending bill no one read; a massive $410 billion omnibus spending bill loaded with thousands of un-scrutinized earmarks; and a new cap and trade national energy tax loaded with special-interest giveaways unveiled at 3:00 am on the morning before a vote.

Now the White House is pushing for a final year-end bill which will be written in secret by the majority behind closed doors to replace the current health care system with government-run care, and transform about one-sixth of our nations economy. The bill will be hammered out in a private, partisan House-Senate conference committee with no public access or scrutiny, in direct contradiction of President Obamas pledge that such talks would be televised on C-SPAN.

These are the actions of a Democratic majority that has forgotten its the American people who are really in charge. These are actions designed to shut the American people out while politicians go about the business of limiting their freedom. And in an era of 10.2 percent unemployment, mounting debt, seemingly endless bailouts, and rapidly expanding government, these abuses are the last straw for the American people, whove clearly had enough.

Republicans have had enough, too. The House GOP congressional transparency initiative includes common-sense changes such as read the bill reform that would require all bills to be posted online for a minimum of 72 hours before they are brought to a vote. We also believe:
•Members committee votes should be posted online within 48 hours so the American people can see how their representatives voted.
•Committees should be required to post the text of adopted bills online within 24 hours of adoption to end the practice of phantom amendments being added to bills secretly after they pass at the committee level.
•Major negotiations on sweeping bills that would dramatically expand the reach of the federal government such as the current government takeover of health care should be open to the public and subject to a full and honest debate when bills reach the floor.
•Cameras should be allowed in the secretive House Rules Committee, the panel that decides which bills and amendments come to a vote.
Our transparency initiative calls for immediate implementation of all of these reforms. Were calling on Speaker Pelosi to bring all of them to an immediate vote. If she wont do it, a Republican majority will. You can read more about the House GOP congressional transparency initiative online, at http://gopleader.gov/readthebill.

Did Republicans miss an opportunity to enact common-sense changes like these when we were in the majority? Yes — and we wont make the mistake again. With this initiative, were taking some common-sense steps to renew the drive for an open and accountable Congress. We recognize restoring the bonds of trust between the American people and their elected leaders starts with changing Congress itself. We hope Speaker Pelosi will join us, and allow these common-sense reforms to go forward.

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[noiwudnttrip]

It's nice to see the next Speaker put forward something solid as opposed to the current speaker who issued only vague platitudes and never followed up on any of them.

[SHAMSHAM1090]

Thats what I call trasparency

Something Obama should learn.

He promised it, yet we've seen none.

[bodinian]

Says the man who supported SOPA

[reyhighet]

great one.

[ChrisHadMS]

You are a huge liar John!! Your facebook page is censoring every democrat out there. There is no transparency. You are a piece of shit liar like Palin is. They delete comments off their page as well.

Just so you know, there is a group on facebook called I have been blocked by Boehner. They are sending out invites to everyone. They are going to every major news station in the nation.

Want to watch something funny, watch the democratic posts disappear on Palins and Boehners page.

[viletree]

 BONER

[yougoobr]

SCUMBAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!

[casualtySR]

I like how he pronounces his name Bayner even tho everyone can see that it is Boner. ;p

[mkufl2gd]

Boehner! You and ur dang republican whinning scumbangs get a life. Thank God Obama's putting the breaks on credit cards, banks, CEO'S, ect. No wonder our country is in finacial ruins...you money hungry scoundrals. Obama has the balls to do it...and for the American PEOPLE! Healthcare!? It's about time! !!

[padude64]

Hey Boehner (Boner) too little too late you idiot! Where were you when your fantastic Bush was in office you whackjob bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrRedskins0021]

Where was this bullshit when Bush was president. The bottom line is that the majority of congressmen are out to make as much money as they can. They are nothing but trash.

[jeremyoyer]

HOw else to they make money?

It's not my concern as to what an individual makes in a year. It's not disputable that HC needs to be reformed but I don't think Government intervention is the answer. This the Government that used piss poor management and caused the recession. Do you really trust people like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi to manage your Healthcare? There's gotta be another way.