Platts Advocates that Health Care Negotiations Be Open to the Public

Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Todd Platts (PA-19) has signed a discharge petition which, if signed by 218 Members of the House of Representatives, would force an up-or-down vote on a bipartisan resolution (H. Res. 847) requiring that the ongoing health care talks be made public and open to the media.  H. Res. 847 is sponsored by Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-13).

 “The health care legislation being crafted behind closed doors by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders will transform one-sixth of our nation’s economy and impact the lives of virtually every American,” said Platts.  “The American people have a right to have their voices heard and I will do my utmost to ensure that openness and transparency are brought into this debate.”

On November 7, 2009, the House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) by a vote of 220-215.  H.R. 3962 consists of approximately 2,000 pages and costs more than $1 trillion over ten years.  On Christmas Eve, the Senate passed its own health care legislation after a number of closed-door meetings that resulted in questionable compromises providing special assistance to specific states represented by swing-vote Senators.  Legislation of this magnitude passed by both chambers is typically negotiated in a Conference Committee between Members of the House and Senate from both parties.  House and Senate leaders have decided to bypass the normal process and work out the details of the final bill in secret and without Republican involvement. 

In addition to signing the discharge petition for H. Res. 847, Congressman Platts has joined a number of his colleagues in publicly calling on Speaker Pelosi to post the final health care bill on the Internet for at least 14 days before a vote is taken.  He is also a cosponsor of H. Res. 554, which would require that all legislation and conference reports be made available on the Internet for at least 72 hours before consideration by the House.  At present, H. Res. 554 and H. Res. 847 are pending in the House Committee on Rules.