It is no surprise that Matt Gaetz, a Republican congressman from Florida, has proposed an amendment to the House Rules package that passed on Monday. This amendment is a step in the right direction for greater transparency in Congress and is beneficial to the country as a whole.
The amendment would enable C-SPAN cameras to cover typical House of Representatives floor sessions. This is a huge departure from the “boomer-fied” fixed spots traditionally seen on C-SPAN and would mandate the cable network to operate at least four cameras in the House of Representatives. By providing citizens with an up-close-and-personal view of the proceedings in Congress, it could restore some trust back to the people.
Karen Finney, a spokeswoman for Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 presidential campaign, praised the amendment on CNN. She stated, “I actually do think it was good for the country to have more of a view into what was happening, how it happened and frankly, how their own members were behaving throughout the process.”
In the past, C-SPAN cameras have provided a window into House proceedings during the start of the 118th Congress. This allowed viewers to see conversations between Gaetz, Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York during the lengthy process that led to Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s election as speaker on the 15th ballot.
Unfortunately, Gaetz’s proposal that politicians should be banned from dogearing bills with unrelated agendas was dismissed. This is a shame, as it could have been another way to bring more accountability to the House of Representatives.
Ultimately, Gaetz’s amendment to the House Rules package is a positive move for the country that deserves support. CNN host Jake Tapper said it best when he said, “Congressman Gaetz, we’re behind you on that bill.” Allowing Americans to view the proceedings more closely is absolutely necessary to have a functioning democracy.