Monday, October 26, 2009

GOP Wants Rules Committee On Camera

Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., continued the GOP's transparency crusade by introducing a resolution Friday calling for cameras to be installed in the House Rules Committee hearing room, which is among the smallest on Capitol Hill and one of the last without cameras. Under his proposal, the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, which provides operations support services to the chamber, would install the equipment and coordinate with the committee to record and broadcast its proceedings. Dent said he is concerned the American public lacks access to the actions that control and determine the legislative process in the House.

"As Congress considers some of the most pivotal policy of our time, the American people deserve full transparency in all legislative proceedings, particularly those of the powerful Rules Committee," Dent said in a press release. "There has been unprecedented civic engagement since the 2008 election. Americans understand the importance of the policy that Congress is considering and they are watching the process closely." The lawmaker said hefty amendments have stealthily come before the committee and key policy proposals have been rejected on a straight party-line vote without proper consideration -- and absent videotaped evidence.

[Update: 2:05 p.m.] A spokesman for Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter said: "We invite TV cameras to every single meeting we have. We can't dictate what the press decides to cover but cameras are always welcome at our meetings. Like all Americans, we love C-SPAN. And it's worth noting that Rules is far more open under us than it ever was under Republicans. We meet earlier, post more information online and we do it faster than ever before so the public knows exactly what happens at each of our meetings. "

The resolution by Dent, who is not a member of the Rules Committee, would call for installation of cameras during the next long district work period, and facilitation of live audio and video webcasting of all proceedings. The expense would be minimal since most of the architectural work required to install cameras was completed during the last renovation of the hearing room, he said. Dent's resolution has 61 original cosponsors, including four members of the Rules Committee including ranking member David Dreier.

Freshman Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan., introduced a resolution last week to change House rules and require committees to post the actual text of adopted bills and amendments online within 24 hours.