Pelosi, Grassley want cameras in Supreme Court during health care arguments

CBS/AP

A pair of bipartisan lawmakers on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to let television cameras broadcast their proceedings for the first time when they hear arguments next year about President Obama's landmark health care law.

The Supreme Court on Monday announced it will hear five-and-a-half hours of oral arguments on the health care overhaul's constitutionality in March, reviving the health reform debate just months before the 2012 elections.

Given the implications of the case, the court should consider providing live audio and video coverage of the proceedings, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa wrote in a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday.

"The constitutional questions presented in the case are momentous," Grassley wrote. "The public has a right to witness the legal arguments likely to be presented in the case."

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday said she backed Grassley's request.

"When the Affordable Care Act is placed before the highest court in our country, all Americans will have a stake in the debate; therefore, all Americans should have access to it," Pelosi said in a statement. "Openness and transparency are essential to the success of our democracy, and in this historic debate, we must ensure the ability of our citizens to take part."

Brian Lamb, the CEO of C-SPAN, also sent a letter to Roberts on Tuesday with the same request, noting that the five-and-a-half hours of arguments scheduled for the case indicates its significance -- and makes the case for cameras more compelling.

"Interested citizens would be understandably challenged to adequately follow audio-only coverage of an event of this length," he wrote.

Grassley first introduced legislation that would allow cameras in the courtroom in 1999. Since then, the Supreme Court has been releasing audio after the fact of the oral arguments made in compelling cases. The first audio the Supreme Court ever released on an expedited schedule was for Bush v. Gore in 2000, the case that effectively resolved the presidential election.

[magnumdr]

Cameras should be everywhere when any of our political members are discussing anything that affects the Americans who they work for! Why Not?

[jeannettelj]

My guess is that 95% of the American people knew that this "committee" was a big waste of time to say nothing of tax payers $$$. The average person on the street would have told you this would be a failure. DUH!!

[Social_Adjudicator]

Without equitable participation of absolutely every American of who is at least the "Age of Majority"(such being 18 years of age), irregarless of status; a bias exists under such mandate, rendering the "Health Care Law" unconstitutional.

They may as well not even waste a whole lot of time on the matter.

[NinthSt78]

Congress is on television every day, but most of the voters are all watching a different channel.

[paulflorez]

Conservative justices like Scalia will HATE this. I am surprised Grassley is supporting this. If they let cameras in for this, they will have to let cameras in for the review of DOMA. Can you imagine Americans seeing soldiers talk about the struggles of their families simply because they are same-sex couples? The evil oppression of the anti-gay religious right on trial for all to see? Anti-gay Republicans have fought tooth and nail to keep cameras out of the courtroom. This will blow up in their face. Then again, social conservatives should be getting used to being thrown under the bus by "mainstream" conservatives by now.

[RobAla]

I'm good with the cameras. Go for it! Just get this effort underway.

[Swatting-Flies]

I surely think it would be interesting to see televised, especially considering that it's a much-longer hearing than typical for SCOTUS.

[oneslownewsday1]

Obama is probably shaking in his shoes and wetting his pants!

[Progress4USA]

Why...no skin off his nose. The American People will be the losers if the law is struck down. Obama get's free health care for life...

[oneslownewsday1]

It appears the left and Obama lemmings are so paranoid that the Supreme Court will stike down part of BarryCare that they want to watch it on TV. Pelosi the dingbat now can see what's in it after she helped pass it in the dark of night.
Poor little Gluttons for punishment.
It will signal the end of one of Obama's socialist dreams.

[oneslownewsday1]

Shut your yap cry baby and stop being envious of my name.

[oneslownewsday1]

Don't cry. Live with it!

[Progress4USA]

by AmericasConscious November 16, 2011 6:57 PM EST
Oops! '"not" very bright'
---
No...you're not very bright!

[AmericasConscious]

Libtard morons opinions like yours are irrelevent.
Don't you know that by know?
Oh that's right, you are rude and stupid!