Can't We Read The Health Care Bill?
From IBD
Congress: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been asked repeatedly to put the proposed health care bill on the Web. They've refused.
From IBD
Congress: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been asked repeatedly to put the proposed health care bill on the Web. They've refused.
Do they have something to hide?
Even Democrats have asked their leadership to put the bill online at least 72 hours before a vote, so that any American can read the 1,000-plus-page monstrosity.
"At a time when trust in Congress and the U.S. government is unprecedentedly low," a group of Democratic senators recently wrote to Reid, "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."
We agree.
Even Democrats have asked their leadership to put the bill online at least 72 hours before a vote, so that any American can read the 1,000-plus-page monstrosity.
"At a time when trust in Congress and the U.S. government is unprecedentedly low," a group of Democratic senators recently wrote to Reid, "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."
We agree.
In the same spirit, at least one group, Let Freedom Ring USA, has posted an online petition calling for Congress to mandate that any bill be posted online at least 72 hours before it's voted on. If Democrats are serious, they might look into that.
Of course, Reid and Pelosi know very well that putting the bill online would jeopardize its passage.
Of course, Reid and Pelosi know very well that putting the bill online would jeopardize its passage.
Anyone who actually reads it will discover what it contains, and what the media have largely ignored — new taxes, fewer health care choices, the destruction of a successful industry and the creation of a massive new bureaucracy.
All at a cost of more than $1 trillion over the next decade.
But what else can you expect from a Congress that is arguably one of the worst in the nation's history?
All at a cost of more than $1 trillion over the next decade.
But what else can you expect from a Congress that is arguably one of the worst in the nation's history?
In power since 2006, this Democrat-led bunch has stood by as a financial meltdown led to a deep recession. Given the chance to reform our nation's financial system, they punted — instead spending trillions on bailouts, handouts, welfare and a phony "stimulus" that have done little for the economy.
In this context, putting a health care reform bill online would seem the least Congress could do — especially if that bill could lead to a de facto government takeover of 17% of the U.S. economy.
Even so, obsessive secrecy about the health care bill may be the least of the problems facing Congress right now.
Despite House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's vow last year to work four or five days a week on the people's business, a Politico.com report suggests the real schedule is more like that of a home for the partially retired:
In this context, putting a health care reform bill online would seem the least Congress could do — especially if that bill could lead to a de facto government takeover of 17% of the U.S. economy.
Even so, obsessive secrecy about the health care bill may be the least of the problems facing Congress right now.
Despite House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's vow last year to work four or five days a week on the people's business, a Politico.com report suggests the real schedule is more like that of a home for the partially retired:
"Members usually arrive for the first vote of the week as the sun sets on Tuesdays," Politico says, "and they're usually headed back home before it goes down again on Thursdays" (emphases ours)."
Gee, and we thought it was a full-time job.
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