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Washington, D.C. – While the Majority in Congress is working behind closed doors to craft health care legislation, U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) participated in a press conference with his fellow Freshman Republican Class members on the need for transparency in Congress.

Congressman Guthrie is a co-sponsor of H.R. 544 which requires all bills to be available online for at least 72 hours before they come to a vote.

Congressman Guthrie’s Statement: 

“It’s common sense: the American people and members of Congress should be given time to read major bills before they come to a vote. Rushing through costly legislation that will have devastating consequences for America’s families that no member of Congress has read is not the way to do business.

“I support the bipartisan House Resolution 544 which requires all bills to be available online for at least 72 hours before they come to a vote.

“The 1,073-page, trillion-dollar stimulus bill was posted online at 10 p.m. the night before it came up for a vote.

“That would be like someone giving you a copy of Moby Dick at 10 o’clock and saying they need a full report by first thing in the morning.

“A 300-page amendment was tacked on to the 1,200-page national energy tax bill at 3 o’clock the morning it came up for a vote.

“In November 2006, Speaker Pelosi pledged to lead the ‘most honest’ and ‘most open’ Congress in history.

“I urge Speaker Pelosi to allow this proposal to be brought to the House floor for an up-or-down vote and give members and the American Public a chance to read bills before they are brought up for a vote.

“Only the House Majority stands between the American people and these common-sense reforms that these resolutions represent to protect their hard-earned tax dollars.”