By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

“Demand an end to the secret negotiations!” says the website of a new citizen movement that is putting  pressure on lawmakers to give the public access to health care reform negotiations by televising them on C-SPAN.

“Let the Cameras In,” launched by the American Future Fund, collected 14,000 signatures in its first 24 hours with its Facebook page already attracting more than 12,000 fans.

“It’s obvious from all the traffic on the website that the American people want to know what’s going on in Washington,” said American Future Fund President Sandy Greiner.

The website is intended to respond to the ongoing controversy surrounding President Barack Obama’s numerous campaign promises to allow the public to watch all health care reform debates on C-SPAN. Thus far, all of the most important negotiations have taken place in secrecy, behind closed doors, and in a very partisan manner.

In further violation of his promises, just this week the President reportedly encouraged Congressional leaders to bypass normal committee procedures in favor of a streamlined process that will allow the final reconciliation between the House and Senate bills to take place in private and with only one political party in attendance.   

As a result, C-SPAN Chairman Brian Lamb issued a challenge to the Administration on Bill Press’s radio show, saying: “The American people pay for all of this that goes on in this town and if we pay for something and it’s the public’s business, we ought to be able to see how it’s done. It’s just that simple.”

As of this writing, “Let the Cameras In” has collected more than 20,000 signatures with the numbers climbing by the minute.

“It’s time for transparency to be part of this health care reform process,” Greiner said. “It’s time to let the cameras in.”

To sign the petition, go to http://www.letthecamerasin.com/?done=1

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