GOP slams Democrats on lack of transparency
WASHINGTON (CNN) – House Republicans charged Thursday that the Democratic pledge of bringing transparency to the federal government was an empty promise.
The GOP’s complaint centers on the $789 billion stimulus package and what is actually in the plan which President Obama says will be a shot in the arm to the ailing economy. House Democrats agreed on Tuesday to language that “require the conferees to not record their approval of the final conference agreement unless the text of the agreement has been available at least 48 hours.”
A deal on the stimulus bill was struck Wednesday between the Democratic leadership, centrist Republicans and the Obama administration. Congressional conferees are lawmakers responsible for taking different versions of House and Senate bills and molding them into one measure that can be voted on by both chambers. As of Thursday afternoon, House Republican leadership aide Michael Steel told CNN they still had not seen the full bill. The House is expected to vote Friday on the measure.
“Why would Democratic Leaders want to pass a nearly 800-page bill without giving anyone – including most of their own Members – a chance to read it?” Steel wrote Thursday in a widely distributed e-mail to the media. “Why would they want to spend over a trillion dollars with no oversight or review? Why would they contradict their own votes, recorded in the Congressional Record? What are they hiding from the American people?”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s spokesman Nadeam Elshami assured CNN the bill will be posted once it is ready, but added it is critical that the legislation be approved as soon as possible.
“We are committed to passing this legislation that will create or save over 3.5 million jobs,” Elshami said. “The bill will be posted online for review as soon as the legislative drafting is complete in keeping with our commitment to transparency. At a time when we’re losing 20,000 jobs a day, we have no time for delay in sending this jobs bill to President Obama.”
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The GOP is the LAST group that should make any statements about transparency. In addition CNN, if you want us to take these tickers seriously, stop putting that picture of Chuck E. Cheese up. Oh, that Steele.
Least democrats are trying to be transparent with the 1000+ problems they have to fix thanks to those fiscally conservative transparent government republicans who ran the show the last 8 years. It hasn't even been a month in office and the GOP is trying to just torpedo Obama at every turn.
Now they know what it's like..... I am not surprised by the "non transparency" but Steele and the rest need to get a grip. Bush hid everything he did and when people requested information it was always the same pathetic reason "executive priveledge."
The GOP are unbelievable. The played dead for 8 years and all of a sudden they want to come back out of extinction. When GW asked them to jump, they asked how high. They are nothing but a bunch of bullies, fakes and wannabes....
GOP = Group of Phoneys
They will never get this vet's vote!
Another broken promise by Obama!
During the campaign he said, "No lobbyists, No back-room deals, blah blah blah"
I guess Obama really WAS spouting "just words".
That's the liberal spirit I love! Let's try and belittle any free speech of anyone that disagrees with us! thank you carlo, that's change we can believe in. lol
hay Steel............get a copy from the republicans in house & senate that went through line by line to chop it up......or Specter.
Idiot crying in the wilderness
The GOP have officially reduced their selves to being Drama Queens
When the repubs were in charge, they did not know what the word transparency meant. Now they feel left out and out of control they want the dems to play fair. Screw you rethugs! Doesn't feel so good when the shoe is on the other foot, does it? What goes around, comes around!
Thanks for the laugh!
This bill is a farce. So is President Obama's promise of transparency.
With the secrecy of the Bush white house, . Steele wants to talk about transparency..
Mr. Steel, you complain of transparency in Obama's administration after just 3 weeks. Heck I'm still waiting to learn who was at Dick Cheney's energy meeting that was held 8 YEARS ago. I have a feeling that meeting had a lot to do with the price of energy going way up. The Bush administration was the most secret/behind closed doors/spin/liars that I have ever witness.
Steele and the GOP are trying to be relevant. Where were you when your GOPers rammed everything down our throats and adamantly refused to tell the American people what was going on the past 8 years? Secret spying, secret energy deals, lobbyists writing bills, Katrina, etc etc? Remember that, Steele?
oh man.. how long do we have to keep hearing and reading the same exact NONSENSE... who got us into this mess in the first place? That's right, a combination of greedy old boys club thieves. In my opinion they are ALL THIEVES. I hope the new government is serious about changing politics but we all know it's hard to train old DOGS!
The GOP shouldn't even be involved with the bill. They caused this recession and they think they should have a say? Ha ha. They are lucky that they have jobs, for now.
WHEN WILL CNN AND OTHERS START MAKING CONSTRUCTIVE STATEMENTS AND PROPOSALS INSTEAD OF FEEDING DISCONTENT. THE MEDIA HAS A STRONG ROLE IN THE TONE OF OUR DAILY EVENTS, AND I THINK IT IS TIME FOR THE MEDIA TO BE RESPONSIBLE!
Democrats are nothing but parasites. This country will never be OK as long as the parasites exist.
right. the Republicans are really in a position to slam anyone for transparency. 8 years of the most secretive, constitution-shredding administration in our nation's history, and these this tool has the audacity to throw rocks at the Democrats over transparency? the last few weeks has shown the most verbose and transparent discussion of govt. matters we've had in a decade or more. there could be even more, i agree, but this waste-of-life Steele etc. are making pathetic ploys at political points... still infuriated by their loss.
I really tried to like this guy when he was selected. I even admit he's good looking but he is starting to appear very silly and over zealous. Please Mr. Steele, I know your first name is Michael and Michael's are very successful people but PLEASE give it a break.
Even though Steele is right. It was a total backroom deal, with no transparency whatsoever (Pelosi style). But at least the Dems are digging their own graves on this.
No Republican should vote for this since they were kept out of the process.
Here's a hint for the Dems, want some bipartisan support? Ditch that witch Pelosi.
It's the same nonsense everyday with these adults tearing down each other....grow up already!
Guess he showed you guys! Way to call em, Mr. Steele.
Do they honestly expect anyone to buy this load? Who are they trying to kid?