. >> mark helprin. >> the commission survives on a lack of transparency. the commission would deny this contract even exists. repeatedly it has been denied the very existence of this contract. when confronting jenna brown, she said there is no such contract and the mission is not a party to it. once some of the features started coming out, the commission said, well, the contract is only about podium heights and temperatures in the auditorium. they deny the was any substance. now that we see the contract, there are extraordinary restrictions that are preventing them from -- there from the more predictable questions, the exclusion of all third party voices, and the prohibition on additional debates. we're facing conflicts and poor policies and unemployment debates, why don't have the best antidote to money in our political process by additional debates? >> you have been talking about the commission on presidential debates. if you could once again review how we came to this point in its electoral politics, how the league of women voters had control of these d

immediately to my left is jim helprin the director of information policy studies at the cato institute and the founder of washington watch.com which keeps a close eye on legislation and federal spending. jim is also -- washington watch.com and we several times during the course of this presentation. and last but not least is john wonderlich the policy director of the sunlight foundation and all around -- that is actually the official title. there is more information about today's panelists and our transparency caucus.org. is like to thank represented eyes and quickly who are the co-chairs of the congressional transparency caucus for giving us the space in the opportunity to have a conversation with you here today. like is i is that i promised i would be brief and i'm going to turn to our first panelist, hugh please. >> thanks daniel. thanks to you in the advisory committee and the sunlight foundation for having me this afternoon. i would like to talk with you a little bit about where we have been over the last two years and maybe a little bit about where we are headed and in the relati