Congress Buchanan (FL-13) To Bring Discharge Petition Before Congress

In a call on Thursday with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL), I learned that Rep. Buchanan had just introduced a discharge petition to the members of the 111th Congress.

In case you aren't familiar with what a discharge petition is, here is a brief summary taken from the rules written for the House. (For a more thorough explanation, see this link)

The “discharge rule” of the House of Representatives allows a measure to come to the floor for consideration, even if the committee of referral does not report it and the leadership does not schedule it. To initiate this action, a majority of House Members must first sign a petition for that purpose. The rule permits either (1) the committee of referral to be discharged from the measure itself; or (2) the Committee on Rules to be discharged from a special rule for considering the measure. Layover periods required by the rule permit the Committee on Rules to preempt a discharge attempt, and recover control of the floor agenda, by securing adoption of an alternative special rule for considering the measure. This report will be updated to reflect developments in the rules or practice.

In short, Congressman Buchanan, along with many of his fellow members of Congress, feel that the lack of transparency with respect to the Health Care reform bill is troubling, at best.

H.Res.847 by Vern Buchanan (FL-13)

Here is the letter that Rep. Buchanan sent to the President regarding this matter:

Buchanan Urges Obama to Demand Open Health Care Negotiations

There are at least eight instances when President Obama openly stated, either during his presidential campaign, or since, that the Health Care legislation process would be "transparent in every way". Barack Hussein Obama promised on many occasions that the process would play out on CSPAN for all of America to see. The American people, as a whole, are being shut out of this entire process, and it is outrageous. We're still waiting for the transparency and openness we were promised.

Here is video of the Congressman discussing the "sunshine legislation" he has introduced, along with the discharge petition.

Here is audio of the Congressman discussing the petition with Sean Hannity, on the Sean Hannity radio show.

Finally, here is video of Congressman Buchanan talking about this issue with Neil Cavuto on Fox News.

You can help by immediately calling and writing/emailing your state Congressional representatives and urging them to sign this important petition. Follow this link to get the contact information for your representative. We urge you to take action today.

It is believed that the democrats who are most likely to sign this petition are those who voted against the Pelosi health care bill that was passed in November. Below is a list of those names...if you are in one of these states, take notice.

John Adler (NJ)
Jason Altmire (PA)
Brian Baird (WA)
John Barrow (GA)
John Boccieri (OH)
Dan Boren (OK)
Rick Boucher (VA)
Allen Boyd (FL)
Bobby Bright (AL)
Ben Chandler (KT)
Travis Childers (MS)
Artur Davis (AL)
Lincoln Davis (TN)
Chet Edwards (TX)
Bart Gordon (TN)
Parker Griffith (AL)
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD)
Tim Holden (PA)
Larry Kissell (NC)
Suzanne Kosmas (FL)
Frank Kratovil (MD)
Dennis Kucinich (OH)
Jim Marshall (GA)
Betsy Markey (CO)
Eric Massa (NY)
Jim Matheson(UT)
Mike McIntyre (NC)
Michael McMahon (NY)
Charlie Melancon (LA)
Walt Minnick (ID)
Scott Murphy (NY)
Glenn Nye (VA)
Collin Peterson (MN)
Mike Ross (AR)
Heath Shuler (NC)
Ike Skelton (MO)
John Tanner (TN)
Gene Taylor (MS)
Harry Teague (NM)