[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25802]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Senate majority leader 
announced his decision to push health care legislation with a public 
option, better known as government control. He said, ``We've spent 
countless hours over the last few days in consultation with Senators.''
  What the Senate majority leader did not say was that these 
negotiations took place behind closed doors with the media and American 
people shut out. Recent polls show when the American people have the 
facts, they oppose the Democrats' proposals by a wide margin.
  During his campaign, then-Senator Obama promised he would, ``have all 
the negotiations around a big table'' and ``televised on C-SPAN'' to 
``allow people to stay involved in this process.''
  Democratic leaders have failed to be open and candid with the 
American people about the decisionmaking process. The public deserves 
to have all of the facts regarding a health care plan that would raise 
premiums and cut benefits.

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