Ensign: Televise the talks

By Lisa Mascaro

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009 | 1:50 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign said this afternoon that talks between House and Senate negotiators over the final version of the $838 billion economic recovery bill should be televised.

“What we’re challenging the Democrat Congress to do is televise the conference meetings,” Ensign said, flanked by Republican leaders.

“It should not be behind closed doors,” Ensign said. “It should be out in the open.”

The House and Senate versions of the bill differ on spending levels and tax issues. A conference committee of appointed lawmakers is expected to resolve the differences.

Moments earlier, Sen. Harry Reid, the majority leader, reminded that the practice of convening a bipartisan committee to resolve differences signaled a new era in Washington.

Reid said the practice had been largely abandoned when Republicans controlled Congress, shutting Democrats out of the process.

“The few conferences that were held were done in secret, with only the Republicans,” Reid said.

“Then during the Bush administration, there were absolutely none,” Reid said. “This is all new.”

The Senate passed the bill Monday afternoon 61-37, with three Republicans crossing party lines to support it. Reid voted for the bill, and Ensign voted against it.

Reid will be at the negotiating table as a member of the committee along with several other leading Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

Ensign said there is precedent for televising negotiations on landmark legislation. He said it’s not something he would seek for every bill.