Dems: Don't Read The Health Care Bill

Statement

Democrats are going to great lengths to keep others from reading the health care reform bill.

Transparency?

On September 23, the Senate Finance Committee defeated an amendment to make health care reform legislation available 72 hours in advance of a Committee vote.

In response to the proposal, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) said,

"I would like to remind our colleagues the effect of this amendment will be this: After we complete action, we will have to wait another two to three weeks before we can vote on it." "We don't do things that way," and, "We have never, ever, ever, ever done that in this committee." (Politico, 9/24/09)

Click here to read the Politico article.

Unlike the Democrats, who have broken their promise to make legislation available to the public before it's voted on, I have cosponsored a resolution requiring all legislation to be posted online at least 72 hours in advance of a vote, which House leadership has refused to bring up for a vote.

Click here to learn more about the resolution, H.Res. 554.

Waste of Time?

Senator John Kerry (D-MA) suggests posting lengthy, complicated legislation, such as the health care reform bill, is not necessary because nobody actually reads the bills. He says,

"Let's be honest about it, most people don't read the legislative language." (Politico, 9/23/09, www.politico.com)

I disagree. I have taken the Responsible Healthcare Reform Pledge to commit to reading in full any health care legislation before voting in favor of reform.

Source