Vern Buchanan Renews Call for 'Supercommittee' Sunshine

With the bicameral Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction meeting for the first time on Thursday, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan repeated his call for greater transparency in the supercommittee, which is entrusted to cut $1.2 trillion in federal spending over the next 10 years.

Buchanan joined U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., at a media conference in Washington on Thursday to demand the committee have all meetings in public -- save for those that deal with classified security matters. Buchanan and Heller have sponsored legislation requiring those meetings have public access.

"The historic decisions made by this panel will help shape the future of our nation," said Buchanan."The committee's deliberations should be done in full view of the American people since its decisions will have such a tremendous impact on the lives of Americans everywhere.

"My home state of Florida is known for having one of the toughest 'right-to-know' laws in America ... guarding against back-room deals and secret negotiations by government officials," added Buchanan.