Transparency: New GOP Committee Chair Orders Cameras for Hearing Room
- Posted on November 5, 2010 at 3:56pm by
Meredith Jessup
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Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif.
With the Republicans poised to retake majority control of the House of Representatives following Tuesday’s midterm elections, the presumptive chairman of the Rules Committee, Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., is setting a new standard of transparency for his committee’s hearings.
In a letter addressed to the House chief administrative officer Dan Strodel, Dreier ordered that video cameras be installed in the hearing room so citizens can keep an eye on Congress.
“Given the important nature of our work, my Republican Rules Committee colleagues and I have repeatedly requested that the majority undertake the installation of cameras in the Rules Committee hearing room to the end that we begin webcasting our proceedings,” Dreier wrote. According to The Hill, the personal letter emphasized the GOP’s interest in “genuine openness and transparency.” Currently, the Rules Committee hearing room is one of only three without cameras — the others being the ethics and Intelligence committee rooms.
As the ranking Republican on the committee, Dreier initially went public with his request during the heated debate over health care this past spring. “We’ve been asking for months for cameras to be installed in the Rules Committee hearing room and now the American people understand why it’s so necessary,” Dreier said at the time.
With Democrats’ health care overhaul plan now the law of the land, the GOP is looking to set a new example for government accountability. “The Rules Committee is being used to manipulate the process to avoid accountability and transparency,” Dreier noted in March. “If the Majority is going to insist on hiding votes on bills behind rules, the least they could do is let the American people watch the action.”
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Comments (99)
BurntHills
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:37pmwhat, no more LOCKED doors with security guards outside of them like what obama did in 2009?!
thank GOD we have REAL AMERICANS now going back in our Govt. — we WILL be watching!!!
Report Post »hlht
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:30pmAlways have liked this guy Dreier
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:29pmTrue transparency! Yes!
Report Post »OneRepublic4us
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:25pmI would like all of the conversations with Soros recorded, any chance Obama’s administration would agree to that?
Report Post »BlueStrat
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 5:01pmI‘m not certain that’s possible.
I think that, sort of like like a vampire & mirrors/cameras, Soro‘s voice and image doesn’t record when he’s giving his Demonic marching orders to his minions, as he then reverts temporarily into his true Demonic form.
Does not everyone smell Soros sulfur around the Fed’s debt monetization and subsequent dollar devaluation?
“An orderly decline in the dollar’s value is desirable.” – George Soros
Soros needs to be imprisoned in Gitmo and have all his wealth confiscated and various front organizations broken up. Until that happens, America will remain in extreme danger.
Report Post »TMACK
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:20pm‘Bout time!
Report Post »spirited
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:18pm“Dreier ordered that video cameras be installed in the hearing room so citizens can keep an eye on Congress.” -MJ
Yahoooooooooo!!!!!!!
Thank You Sir for keeping Barack Obama’s (insincere) promise.
Next, —-all the CSPAN coverage he campaigned about. That means, they will have to read the Bills before voting; while they’re posted on the Internet for (how many?) hours before a vote.
Betcha they’ll be pots of (US) TEA consumed during those Rules Committee Hearings.
Report Post »>See, there really is room, in the room –for an elephant.
SummerB
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 12:36amLove it! Thank you Rep. Dreier! You know the Dem Senators up to 2012 re-election are going to vote in many instances with the Repubs. So happy!
Report Post »Slap Shot
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:17pmcan we get Obama a helmet cam so we can keep an eye on him.
Report Post »luvamerica
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:15pmThat’s wonderful news. Thank you
Report Post »Yougetwhatyouvotefor
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:13pmThe real deals are cut in the offices and hallways.But its a great start.
Report Post »emertz8413
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:12pmOk, I think I agree with this. But, I guess I’m not really up on what the Rules Committee does, or the Ethics Committee for that matter.
Report Post »mike_restin
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 9:48amIf we go by the democratic majority congress the Rules & Ethics Committees do whatever they damn well please.
Report Post »Generally speaking they make the rules up as they go and ignore ethics.
And you can count on Obama to take credit for transparency in the 2012 race.
HillCountryPatriot
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:12pmI want to play BIG BROTHER for a while. Great idea!!!
Report Post »Flashover
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:12pmWell, that’s a start.
Report Post »Seagal45
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:11pmIt is about time that SOMEONE wants real transparency and we will be watching you!
Report Post »Pelicans View
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:11pmAs is often said by the Beckmeister…sunlight is usually the best disinfectant.
Report Post »The Truth Will Set You Free
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:11pmI thought Obama promised this transparency!? Oh, that is right…his definition is made up. Transparency = Opaque.
Report Post »Laus Deo Too
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:10pmBaby steps…baby steps. Going in the right direction.
Report Post »IntegrityMatters
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 6:38pmYes! Between this announcement and Boehner’s declaration that bills will be posted for 72 hours -as promised 2 years ago- we the people are in agreement!
Report Post »a true texan
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:09pmLove it! Go get’em. Lets see if it actually happens.
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:07pmi think that s is a great idea to stop the lying,cheating dum-o-rats from making back room deals .. we ll call it the sunshine law to keep everything in the open… god bless America
Report Post »lbsm
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:18pmahh…but there will be NO cameras in the BACK rooms!!!
Report Post »deskpilot
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:07pmNow THIS is the kind of CHANGE that we’vebeen waiting for.
Report Post »I support this move
Once they get that up and running, I’m sure that popcorn and highly caffinated drink sales will rise.
Great way to stimulate the economy!
spirited
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:20pm…amnd supply our own happy toys.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:07pmSounds good to me. :)
Report Post »Sunnyr
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:04pmTransparency at last! Thank you, Republicans! We the Taxpayer have a right to know who the crooks are in our government and who are the ones protecting them. Whoever said “sunlight is the best disinfectant” was a very wise man or woman. Let‘s see how long it takes for the DemocRATS to start whining about the camera’s and lobbying to remove them. No more back room deals. It’s a new day in Washington DC!
Nice job, Congressman Dreier!
Report Post »Restorationist1
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 6:40amYou will find the original crooks if you listen to G. Edward Griffin’s, The Creature of Jekyll Island.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7auQEXTWomA
and they’re going back to the scene of the crime w/ Ben Bernanke, for the 100th Anniversary.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/political-economy/2010/11/fed_has_starring_role_in_retur.html
Jacqueline L.
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:04pmThank you Mr. Dreier
Report Post »Harvey
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:04pmIts about time someone woke up.
Report Post »uneedmorekoolaid
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 8:23pmI want to send them as a pair of mounted BRASS BALLS to put on their desk right next to their name plate, so when they think about how hard it is to stand for something good and honest they can remember they have a set of BRASS BALLS and liberal communist can’t mess with someone with BRASS BALLS!!!!
Report Post »MaestroDaae
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:03pmI wonder how the libs will spin this one …
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:24pmProbably “Oh ______(fill in the blank), we can’t lie, cheat and steal from the American people and get away with it anymore”. A new day is dawning and if it doesn’t stay clear and sunny, 2012 is right around the corner.
Report Post »janddjohnson
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 6:41pmGrandma:
I think some democrats would say “So what? The American people are too stupid to know what we are talking about.”
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:00pmmmm…OK, we’re watching….
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:08pm…and listening and researching and voting again in two years.
Report Post »john seven eighteen
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:15pmYes we will, but finally someone with the cojones to step up to the plate. Good job Congreesman Dreier!
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:20pmHope they actually will do so.
Report Post »BMartin1776
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:21pmYes they need to understand they are on probation ppl are not going to sit back anymore.
Report Post »Wish I could get this hand delivered to each and every one of them:
Warning To The “New Blood” http://tinyurl.com/37hku3l
BetterDays
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:25pmgood start, but we shall indeed be watching.
Report Post »theninthplanet
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:30pmBet President Barry takes credit for this as a fulfilled campaign promise. “Under my watch as President, Congress became more transparent than ever.”
Report Post »jb1972
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:37pm@theninthplanet.
Report Post »You have to make that statement using Bill Clintons voice…so perfect.
gman46
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:43pmThey do have a ways to go, but this is a good step forward.
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 5:24pmThank you Rep. Dreier. More access to the actions of politicians is a must at this time, and we all need to be actively involved in seeing how our representatives in congress conduct thier business. If you vote, you should care about every decision on The Hill, what your representaitve’s stance was, and know why it was made.
I think the Tea Party has put every single GOP on notice – only time will tell what they do with that knowledge.
Report Post »Susan Harkins
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 5:45pmGood start. We will be watching for any mirrors going up…or strange smoke.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 6:21pmGood. No more secret Pelosi bills that we have to pass to find out what is in them.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 6:49pmI want them to Prosecute the crimes committed in the CDO fraud.
Report Post »Ron Paul should be Speaker of the house not the same Jack asses who
have had years to investigate these crimes.
rebel
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 8:21pmgreat idea. i wonder how many times they will have “technical difficulties”
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 9:24pmsounds like a good start.. now get the other two rooms.. NONE of the PEOPLE’S business should be hidden behind closed doors.. we want to hear EVERYTHING.. I am tired of finding out about bills etc via searching for hours on the government website.. there are some laws Bush signed written by the Democrat that should have NEVER been signed they are a violation of ones privicy such as EVERY NEWBORN WILL HAVE A MANDATORY DNA TEST AND THAT DNA PUT INTO A DATA BASE after 2007 that’s right folks any baby born after 2007 has their DNA on file in a NATIONAL DATA base.. BTW Christopher Dodd was the one who started this bill.. shortly after the Dems got elected.. a prelude to HEALTH CARE one can imagine..
Report Post »baron94
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 10:53pmPoliticians should have been fited with ‘Critter Cams’ that link to the web. Then the people can keepa close eye on all of their activities. We may even witness the ellusive Honest politician.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 3:21amIf it happens at all, it won’t last. I’m all for transparency, but this suggestion is immature grandstanding. We may all agree it’s horrible that agreements are made “in secret” but when people are on TV and they know their constituents are watching, they act differently. They are “playing to the audience.” They are less willing to compromise knowing that would be held against them, more willing to be uncompromising so they appear tough to those listening in. If an argument with your husband or wife were televised would that make solutions easier or harder to come by?
Report Post »kwatch
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 11:17amyes jzs- but we can watch them and hold them accountable for who said what….I think it is grand and let’s hope this keeps the reawakening of Americans into the political process.
Report Post »just the facts
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 2:55pmI also will hold them accountable. I will also give them some space. So far, I like what I see and hear….. so far. I like the camera idea. It would be a good thing. As for the accountability, lets all remember, we have a (lightly used) president who has stopped all or had distorted most all info being released to the people. God only knows what this guy has done behind our backs. We have seen him do things right under our nose. Just keep in mind, these new representatives are walking into a mess of deceit, lies, and a very organized progressive atmosphere. Lets hope they succeed in what we elected them for.
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