[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15476]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      JONATHAN GRUBER'S STATEMENTS ARE SHOCKING BUT NOT SURPRISING

  (Mr. BURGESS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, in 2009, President-elect Obama wrote a memo 
that his Presidency will usher in an unprecedented level of openness. 
But this week, it was revealed that the lead architect for the 
Affordable Care Act, Jonathan Gruber, capitalized on--his words now--
the stupidity of the American people in passing the health care law. He 
further went on to say the lack of transparency is a huge political 
advantage and was critical to passing the law.
  This insult to the American people is shocking, but it is hardly 
surprising. In 2011, the Energy and Commerce Committee uncovered 
evidence of secret meetings at the White House where they were setting 
the stage for the takeover of America's healthcare. At the time, their 
work was discounted. Old news, they said. But was it really?
  The American people sent a message last week, and the message was 
they are not stupid. This administration, which finds value in opacity 
while talking transparency, needs to conduct its business in the light 
of day, exactly as they promised in 2009.

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