WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins released the following statement after Democratic Leadership in the House and Senate reached a deal with President Obama to bypass the traditional conference committee process and finalize the health care bill.

“Speaker Pelosi promised the American people the most open and ethical Congress ever, and President Obama promised during his campaign to televise health care negotiations to all Americans. It is extremely disappointing and a total disservice to Kansans as well as all Americans to deny C-SPAN’s request to televise the final negotiations and allow Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to finalize the health care bill behind closed doors.

“These health care bills are jam-packed with Medicare cuts, tax hikes and higher costs that will hit every Kansan. Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid know the American people do not want this government takeover of healthcare, but it appears they have decided not to listen to their constituents in order to give President Obama a health care bill to sign. Rather than hiding behind closed doors to cut a final deal, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid should scrap these misguided plans, and work with all members of Congress and Senators on health care reforms that will actually work.”