Dem senator calls for opening health care talks

A Democratic senator says party leaders should open health care negotiations to C-SPAN cameras, echoing Republicans who have called for greater transparency.

Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill said in a statement Friday that hundreds of hours of debate on health care have been open and further talks between the House and Senate should be on C-SPAN.

C-SPAN chief executive Brian Lamb sent a letter to congressional leaders this week asking for the talks to be opened to cameras. As a candidate, President Barack Obama pledged during a January 2008 debate that negotiations would be on C-SPAN.

Democrats say they have kept Americans informed throughout the process. Republicans have criticized them for taking the final, most crucial stage of the discussions behind closed doors.