The GOP meetings with lobbyists will be televised

Must see video!

Do you want to watch Republicans discuss their agenda behind closed doors with what Dems inisist is a secretive cabal of powerful lobbyists? Well, you are going to get to do just that: Republicans have agreed to open up an upcoming meeting with lobbyists to the public, via live streaming!

As you may have heard, Republicans took a hammering from Dems and liberal bloggers earlier this week when the news broke that House Republicans had invited lobbyists from large trade groups to discuss new GOP ideas as part of the GOP's America Speaking Out series.

The invite from House Republicans described the affair as an effort "to produce a new policy agenda with a small group of trade association leaders," including reps from the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.

Dems blased the news as proof the GOP lets corporate lobbyists write its agenda. The DNC mocked it as "Lobbyists Speaking Out."

Now Republicans have responded: They are going to live stream the whole affair to prove to you that there's nothing amiss. Brendan Buck, a spokesman for America Speaking Out, says this will show it's nothing more than a discussion about job creation.

"If the DNC wants to listen in about how their policies are hurting private sector job growth, we're happy to oblige," Buck emails. "We hate to burst the hyperbolic intrigue, but all we're offering is a serious discussion about creating jobs."

Obviously this doesn't preclude other private discussions between lawmakers and lobbyists from taking place, and the lobbyists will be a tad more guarded than they otherwise might be, but this actually could be kind of interesting. I'm curious to see what GOP leaders and these big Beltway lobbyist types will come up with in the way of policy suggestions. Admit it: You are, too!

