Will Target Dems Back Transparency in Washington?

FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following districts: Michael Arcuri (NY-24); Dan Boren (OK-02); Leonard Boswell (IA-03); Bobby Bright (AL-02); Chris Carney (PA-10); Ben Chandler (KY-06); Steve Cohen (TN-09); Jim Costa (CA-20); Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-09); Lincoln Davis (TN-04); Peter DeFazio (OR-04); Chet Edwards (TX-17); Gene Greene (TX-29); Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (IL-02); Marcy Kaptur (OH-09); Frank Kratovil (MD-01); Dan Lipinski (IL-03); Dave Loebsack (IA-02); Dan Maffei (NY-25); Carolyn Maloney (NY-14); Jim Marshall (GA-08); Michael Michaud (ME-02); Dennis Moore (KS-03); Mike Ross (AR-04); Mark Schauer (MI-07); Heath Shuler (NC-11); Adam Smith (WA-09); Jackie Speier (CA-12); and Gene Taylor (MS-04).

Will Michael Arcuri Back Transparency in Washington?

Signing Petition Would Force Lawmakers and Allow Public to Read Health Bill, Others Before Vote

Washington- Michael Arcuri has the opportunity to put his money where his mouth is by supporting a measure promoting transparency and openness in the legislative process, including the Democrats’ massive healthcare proposal. H.Res. 554, a bipartisan bill that would require Congress to post legislation online for 72 hours before voting, has earned 98 cosponsors – including Arcuri himself – from both sides of the aisle.

Since Arcuri’s party leaders refuse to let the bill see the light of day, it can only be brought to a floor vote after gathering signatures from a majority of House members on a discharge petition. Now that Arcuri has the opportunity to put up or shut up, will he actually back this commonsense push for transparency and openness or will he reveal himself to be a political opportunist unwilling to stand up to his party?

“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)

“After co-sponsoring this practical and commonsense measure to require openness and transparency in Washington, it should be a no-brainer for Michael Arcuri to step up and put pen to paper in order to let members of congress and the public read legislation such as the Democrats’ thousand-page healthcare bill before it comes to a vote,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Americans are rightly outraged that Democrats continue to rush their reckless agenda through Congress without proper debate and scrutiny. Michael Arcuri has a golden opportunity to stand up to his party bosses and let them know that he’s on the side of New York families who expect their congressman to read bills before voting on them.”

With Michael Arcuri facing the opportunity to force an up-or-down vote on legislation that would allow both the public and Congress three days to read legislation before it comes to a vote, will he step up to the plate or cower to his party bosses once again?

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