Open government rhetoric versus reality

[Commentary] Are Congress and President Barack Obama playing out this eternal logic? When the Democrats took power in 2006, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised to create "the most honest and open Congress in American history." When Obama won in 2008, he promised "to usher in a new era of open government." Yes, some progress has been made. But vividly illustrating the current discrepancy between promise and practice is the recent digital TV bill signed into law by the president on February 11. The bill was passed as an emergency measure ostensibly to prevent any households from losing access to over-the-air TV on February 17. The open government transgressions included:

First, neither the House Commerce Committee nor the Senate Commerce Committee had a hearing, markup, or vote on the bill.

Second, the House committee canceled two announced markups, the first less than an hour before it was scheduled. The announced reason for the cancellation made no sense, as it was based on information that was five days old.

Third, by avoiding a committee vote, Congressional leaders could ask for a floor vote on the bill without the otherwise required Congressional Budget Office estimate of its cost to the private sector.

Fourth, the Senate and first House vote on the bill took place without publicly releasing a copy of the bill.

Fifth, the bill was introduced on the House Floor under a closed rule, allowing no amendments.