Contact: Michael Steel, Antonia Ferrier, Kevin Smith, 202-225-4000 

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 /Standard Newswire/ -- House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement based on news reports that President Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders have cut a deal to skip a formal Conference on their health care legislation -- a flat violation of the President's promise that such negations would be broadcast on C-SPAN for the American people to see: 

"Something as critical as the Democrats' health care bill, with its Medicare cuts and tax hikes, shouldn't be slapped together in a shady backroom deal.  The American people simply won't stand for it.  And President Obama knows that, which is why he pledged during last year's campaign that such negotiations would take place in public, on C-SPAN.  In the same spirit, Rep. Vern Buchanan has introduced a resolution requiring the negotiations be public. 

"But now it seems that Washington Democrats plan to ignore the President's commitment, and Speaker Pelosi is even laughing about it.  Let's be clear: skipping a real, open Conference would shut out the American people and break one of President Obama's signature campaign promises.  It would be a disgrace -- to the Democratic Leaders if they do it, and to the President who broke his word.  That's no laughing matter."

NOTE:  Yesterday, House Republican Leader Boehner sent a letter to C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb, accepting Lamb's offer to televise the health care Conference on his network.  You can read that letter here.