In a recent U.S. Senate committee vote, legislators have voted down an amendment to allow the public to see the entire bill, and its cost, 72 hours prior to a vote. AFP-Maryland is demanding transparency from Congress as the Senate considers the details of legislative proposals that would fundamentally transform the American health care system.

Maryland is slated to receive $3.75 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) 2009 over the next 18 months. Taxpayers were led to believe that this was a one-time “shot in the arm” to give a boost to our ailing economy. Recent public polling has shown that a slight majority of the public is giving the Stimulus plan, and the politicians who supported it, a chance at success. However, most of the public is unaware of how the money is being disbursed.