Greg Walden: Transition Team Working to "return this government. . .to the people"

Press Release

Majority Transition Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) joined Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today at a media availability to discuss the transition effort and Republicans' plans to get to work right away addressing the priorities of the American people: creating jobs, cutting spending, and reforming Congress. Below is a transcript of Chairman Walden's remarks.

"I think we got off to a really good start in the transition team. As many of you know, we had a couple of hours meeting on Monday night in Leader Boehner's office, had a good presentation from different folks about the issues here, and how we can make this place more open, more accessible to the public.

"It is the public's business, by the way. That's a statement I'm giving out to everybody on the transition team: remember this is the public's business that we're doing. How do we open it up, how do we make it more accessible, how do we bring the public in, how do we return this government back to the people? How do we reform this process, how do we do get at the cost savings we all know can be achieved here, how do we improve the efficiencies … how do we do the things that you would reform if you were in charge?

"So let's start and build a House that works for the people, because this is the people's House. We're also putting a lot of ideas out there, and I wanted you to understand that. Having been a small business owner for over 20 years, I ask all my people in the company: how do you fix it? Let's throw them all up there and talk about it. It doesn't mean every idea is one you go with, but I want to create the atmosphere we can have legitimate brainstorming, where we can really look at these issues and resolve them in a really positive way. And, by the way, take advantage of modern technology. Wouldn't it be great if you could use modern technology so you didn't have 200 copies of every single amendment in a bill, that everybody could maybe see it online in real time, including the members.

"I don't know if we can get there tomorrow, next week, or a year from now, but we should invite in the people who can help us decide that and actually implement new technology into this facility. So wherever you are in America, you can watch your business being done and maybe help us do that business better."

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