No Surprise Here: Target Dems Back Away from Transparency
FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following districts: Michael Arcuri (NY-24); Sanford Bishop (GA-02); Leonard Boswell (IA-03); Bobby Bright (AL-02); Chris Carney (PA-10); Jim Costa (CA-20); Henry Cuellar (TX-28); Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03); Lincoln Davis (TN-04); Peter DeFazio (OR-04); Chet Edwards (TX-17); Gene Green (TX-29); Baron Hill (IN-09); Larry Kissell (NC-08); Frank Kratovil (MD-01); Dave Loebsack (IA-02); Dan Maffei (NY-25); Jim Marshall (GA-08); Eric Massa (NY-29); Jim Matheson (UT-02); Michael Michaud (ME-02); Dennis Moore (KS-03); Tom Perriello (VA-05); Mike Ross (AR-04); Mark Schauer (MI-07); Heath Shuler (NC-11); Harry Teague (NM-02); and Tim Walz (MN-01).
No Surprise Here: Kratovil Backs Away from Transparency
One Month Later, Maryland Dem Still Won’t Back Bill He Cosponsored
Washington- Democrat Congressman Frank Kratovil still refuses to put his money where his mouth is by supporting a petition that would require a floor vote for transparency legislation that is overwhelmingly popular with the American people. H.Res 554, a bipartisan bill calling on Congress to post legislation online for 72 hours before voting, has earned 208 cosponsors – including Kratovil himself. But Kratovil seems more interested in political cover than good policy, as his name is still absent from the discharge petition required to bring the bill to a floor vote since his party leaders refuse to let it see the light of day.
“Separately, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers on Wednesday announced their own effort to force Democratic leaders to give members of Congress — and the public — 72 hours to review legislation before any bill is brought to the floor for a vote.
“The measure, sponsored by Rep. Brian Baird, Washington Democrat, and Republican Reps. John Culberson of Texas and Greg Walden of Oregon, would require House leaders to post all non-emergency legislation online, in its final form, three days before a vote.
“The lawmakers have begun circulating a discharge petition that would force House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to hold a vote on their bill, which has been stuck in committee for months.” (Jennifer Haberkorn and Kara Rowland, “Dems Block GOP Demand for More Time,” Washington Times, 9/23/09)
Kratovil has had over a month to act, but his silence only further proves that he’s more interested in engaging in political opportunism than standing up to his own party. Meanwhile, polling shows that this commonsense push for transparency and openness is backed by a vast majority of Americans:
“Eighty-three percent (83%) of U.S. voters say legislation should be posted online in final form and available for everyone to read before Congress votes on it. The only exception would be for extreme emergencies.” (“83% Say Congress Should Post Bills Online For All to Read Before Voting On Them,” Rasmussen Reports, 9/30/09)
“What will it take for Frank Kratovil to finally stand up to his radical and secretive party leaders and demand to be able to read important legislation before voting on it?” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “As Democrats continue their push to force their radical backroom deals through Congress and onto the American people, it seems that the only reason Kratovil won’t back this push for transparency is so he can rubber-stamp his party’s reckless agenda before Maryland families and taxpayers know what hit them.”
###