A group of eight Democrats today asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for the health care reform bill to be posted online for 72 hours before a vote on the measure and once again before a vote on the conference report that will meld the House and Senate versions.
The senators told Reid that health care reform should be more transparent and easier for their constituents to understand. A CBS poll released last month showed that two-thirds of Americans say the issue is confusing and just 31 percent say they have a clear understanding of what reform will mean for their own care.
The senators wrote, "At a time when trust in Congress and the U.S. government is unprecedentedly low, we can begin to rebuild the American people's faith in their federal government through transparency and by actively inviting Americans to participate in the legislative process."
When he introduced his idea, Bunning said, "Quite frankly, I think Americans are tired us us taking the easy way out, tired of us not reading or having the time to read the bills. They expect more from us and we should deliver it." The Democrats are asking Reid to deliver on all three of Bunning's suggestions.
When Bunning introduced his amendment last month, Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) accused him of trying to stall progress on health care reform and the committee rejected the amendment.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) crossed party lines to vote for it and took the lead on circulating the letter among her colleagues this week. Seven other moderate Democrats signed on: Evan Bayh of Indiana, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Joe Lieberman (independent Democrat) of Connecticut, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Jim Webb of Virginia.
"We believe the American public's participation in this process is critical to our overall success of creating a bill that lowers health care costs and offers access to quality and affordable health care for all Americans," the letter concluded. The Finance Committee has posted the final version of its bill online prior to the committee vote, but the bill has not yet been scored by the CBO and remains in conceptual, rather than legislative, language.
26 comments:
Reid. I've seen more appealing substances in a latrine.
No offense meant, but I don't need to read it. It's one more arm of government trying to control my life.
I am glad to hear that some Democrats are in fear of their political lives. And that has forced them to do the right thing. They did not do it out of the goodness of their hearts.
It still has to get past the very arrogant Harry Reid. Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Barrak Obama are in this for one reason and one reason only. They are trying to buy votes with our money ... that's it plain and simple. That's one reason it isn't enacted until 2013. Their voters would turn on them before obama's try for a second term.
And Reid's response? "Go frig yourself."
Curiously, I predict he'll receive the same response from Nevada voters next fall.
One thing I forgot to mention was it did look like the telephone crusade worked big time. Like I said, They fear for their political lives. People that voted for them are turning on them, and they know it even if the MSM does not report it.
They need to push him, all right; push him off a cliff.
Sorry, Rhod... No substance there!
More sunlight...better results. This kind of disclosure should be standard. It's the very least they can do to deliver on the transparency they've promised. They should put it on line for at least one business week at each stage of the legislative process. Two weeks would be great.
I do like the fact that the Senators are calling for online exposure at multiple points. Forces the legislators to give more thought to what they're putting out there.
This is a rare example of moderate Democrats promoting a good idea. We should give credit where credit is due.
Woody, It's amazing to me that their first query isn't "What do the American public really want?" It's "How can we sneak this past them?"
Dave, I agree. I hope next Fall is not too late.
Jeez, Mike... another Looney Tunes reference?
Klik, I'm at the point where I suspect EVERYTHING they do as being cover for something else. They bred this attitude.
what Rhod said..ha
Woman... Please don't encourage him.
Holy Crap!!
Dazed... Welcome to Obama's America.
Heres the story from the U.S. perspective, but the pictorial link is broken, possibly so it doesn't offend Muslims.
I'm with Rhod and Woman on this.
Thanks, Dazed. I don't see them selling quickly in my neighborhood. It's just more appeasement.
Harry Reid is going to do what he darn well pleases.....
72 hours??? It should be 14 days! Of course NONE OF THEM want ANYTHING that will hold their feet to the fire.
PEOPLE, CLEAN HOUSE IN 2010!
Lucy, you're right.
LA... Their greatest fear is that, given 72 hours, the blogosphere will digest and interpret the hidden secret horrors of this legislation. They can't risk it.
Sufferin Suckatash !!
- Thanks to any democrats who resist this fascist takeover of the health care system.
- Why aren't the republicans screaming about this day after day and making themselves heard. Buy some airtime with all the payola cash, you get it for free for God's sake.
- I've said it before and here it is again. The Bill would be one page that reads "Everyone gets free health care anywhere they want for the rest of their lives and taxes won't go up" and I would vote no 8 days a week.
Anyone who even thinks they want government standing between them and health care - the most important personal issue of their lives is Dumber Than a Sack O Wet Mice !
Book ended it there for you Nickie.
The Republicans look like they're gonna fold, Kid.
Nickie. They have on everything so far..
How does this piece of dirt keep getting elected? It speaks volumes about Nevada.
Nevada is the home of the Littlest Big Senator in the World.
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