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The most transparent administration and Congress is not so transparent. While unveiling her ballyhooed health care bill Nancy Pelosi actually prohibited anyone not explicitly invited to attend.

House Democrats blocked the public from attending the unveiling ceremony of their health care bill Thursday morning, allowing only pre-approved visitors whose names appeared on lists to enter the event at the West Front of the Capitol.

The audience at the crowded press conference included Hill staffers, union workers, health care providers and students, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who thanked them for attending.

It seems you had to have an invitation and RSVP to it in order to be admitted. This was held in a space that is a public space in our nation’s Capitol, the West Front of the Capitol building. This is where presidents are inaugurated.

One of Rep. Eric Cantor’s staff tried to get in with this result:

“You’re not authorized per the Speaker’s staff.”

“You have to be on the RSVP list.”

“Stand all the way at the end.”

So if an ordinary citizen were visiting Washington and wanted to attend this announcement he or she would have been turned away because his or her name did not appear on the invitation list, or he or she could have stood all the way at the end. Maybe I could have gotten in by flashing my old union membership card.

Your Congress at work.

Written by Jeanette

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