Political Quotes

“I have been in local government for 15 years where we were subject to sunshine laws, and I believe that total access for the public and the media at committee meetings will end once and for all the controversial practice of shutting the doors to meeting rooms and barring the public to facilitate backroom deals with special interests. This did happen, this is one elephant on May 6th, 1993, when the Democratic majority excluded the public while the Committee on Ways and Means considered a $270 billion tax increase. Madam Speaker, meetings to prepare tax bills should be open to the public, as should other legislation that is being drafted, and these other committee meetings should be open as well. Open meetings will discourage backroom deals and increase congressional accountability. The committee sunshine reforms are long overdue. We apply these reforms to many parts of the Executive Branch. it is time we apply them to Congress as well.”