I started off this week by continuing to hold town hall meetings, to hear directly from my constituents on their thoughts and concerns about the happenings in Washington. I focused on reaching out to our senior citizens, by holding events at retirement communities in Fredericksburg and Newport News. The seniors I spoke with echoed what I've been hearing for months: we need healthcare reform, but not in this form and certainly not in the manner it's been conducted; behind closed doors with no transparency or bipartisan input - and I couldn't agree more.
The President vowed no less than 8 times that the "negotiations would air on CSPAN", while the Speaker of the House declared this "would be the most open and transparent Congress" in our history. However, when given a chance to air the proceedings, both legislators and citizens have been blocked from viewing exactly what will be in the final healthcare legislation.
Just this week, the House had the opportunity to mandate that the negotiations be brought out into the open. I along with a bipartisan group of 170 Congressmen and women have cosponsored H.Res. 847, introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida. This bill would require that the current healthcare negotiations be brought out in the open for everyone to observe and learn exactly what is being placed into this legislation which will affect every American. The House proceeded to vote 239-175, not to bring the bill before the House for full debate and a final vote, thus closing the door for all of us to see, hear and understand the entire development of the healthcare reform legislation before Congress.
I fully understand the frustration of my constituents, and I will continue to meet with folks from across the First Congressional District to get their feedback, and to bring it directly to the halls of Congress. We absolutely should not pursue health care legislation without the input of both parties and the full understanding and consent of our Nation's citizens. I will stick to pursuing an open and transparent legislative process here in Washington and I hope to hear from you either by calling my office at (202) 225-4261, emailing me through my website at www.wittman.house.gov, or by attending any of my future town hall meetings.
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He was elected to his first full term in November 2008 and serves on the Natural Resources Committee and the Armed Services Committee where he is the Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.
