Rules package includes provision on webcasting committee hearings

With the Jan. 5, 2011, passage of a new House rules package, the newly installed Republican majority made significant progress toward implementing its promise to broadcast all committee hearings on the Internet.

Many, but not all, House committees already broadcast hearings on the Internet, and hearings are sometimes broadcast by C-SPAN. The most notable exception is the Rules Committee, a highly influential panel that sets the terms of debate for most of the significant bills that go through the chamber.

In the House Republicans' Pledge to America, party leaders promised to "require that all committees -- especially the Rules Committee -- webcast their proceedings and post complete transcripts online -- with obvious exceptions for those panels dealing with state secrets and classified information."

The resolution (which is summarized here) says, "To the maximum extent practicable, each committee shall (A) provide audio and video coverage of each hearing or meeting for the transaction of business in a manner that allows the public to easily listen to and view the proceedings; and (B) maintain the recordings of such coverage in a manner that is easily accessible to the public.""

In its analysis of the rules package, the Sunlight Foundation, a pro-transparency group, said that the wording "to the maximum extent practicable" does amount to a "caveat." But the group expressed optimism that the new rule will expand access, saying that "the wording implies both live and archived access to proceedings."

However, the rules package does not mention a new policy for transcripts of committee proceedings -- the second part of the promise as stated in the Pledge. During previous Congresses, not all committees consistently posted transcripts or posted them in a timely manner.

Because it remains to be seen how fully the webcast rule will be implemented in the new House session -- and because a new policy on posting transcripts has not yet been released -- passage of the rules package is not enough, in our view, to qualify as a Promise Kept. Still, the resolution's passage represents a significant step toward keeping this promise. So we rate it In the Works.