Research

As a candidate, Barack Obama pledged to “clean up both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.” But by now Americans know that President Obama has done the exact opposite, bringing his Chicago-style arm-twisting and back room deal-making to the Potomac.

Now, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is allowing a mark-up of a “resolution of inquiry” from Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) that would demand “that President Barack Obama divulge details about his negotiations with healthcare interest groups.” Jeffrey Young of The Hill reports today:

“The House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to mark up the resolution authored by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) just hours before Obama's first State of the Union address. Burgess’s resolution requests the Obama administration turn over documentation of its dealings with healthcare trade associations and a labor union …

“Under House rules, the committee of jurisdiction must hold a mark up on such a ‘resolution of inquiry’ within 14 legislative days of its introduction. If the panel does not do so, the resolution becomes a privileged motion that can be brought directly to the floor, according to a House Republican aide. If the committee and the House were to adopt the Burgess resolution, the White House would have to comply within 14 days.”

Last Friday in Ohio, Obama tried to brush all of this off as “just an ugly process.” But Americans know that he and his Congressional Democrat lieutenants decided to make it ugly.