Three Days of Obama Care
It’s such a simple idea. Yet powerful. Compelling. Alluring. Irresistible.
And it’s scaring the bejeebies out of the health reform crowd on Capitol Hill.
Here it is: Before Congress votes on a final health reform bill, the full text goes up on the Internet for everyone in the nation to read, along with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score — giving the expected price tag and the expected impact on seniors, small business, employer-based coverage, etc.
Pursuing Open Government in Three Days of the Condor
Think about it. For three days and three nights, everybody in the country can read, debate, discuss and give last-minute “up” or “down” input to their congressional representatives.
What’s so terrifying about that?
Here’s a summary of where the idea stands in the House, prepared by the NCPA’s Brian Williams:
- Congress has rushed through several pieces of legislation this year, allowing little or no time to read the actual text of the legislation before voting. This is a common abuse of power when one party controls the legislative process (in other words, Republicans were not immune either).
- When she was elected as Speaker, Nancy Pelosi promised that members would have at least 24 hours to examine bills prior to floor consideration.
- However, the Speaker has broken her own 24-hour rule multiple times by rushing through dozens of major bills. Recent examples on the list include several bills that were more than 1,000 pages in length, such as economic stimulus legislation, cap-and-trade legislation and S-CHIP expansion.
- A House rules change has been introduced (H. Res. 554) that would require legislation to be available on the Internet for 72 hours before consideration. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) and currently has 164 cosponsors.
- Because the Democratic leadership won’t consider H. Res. 554, a motion to discharge (a “discharge petition”) was introduced on September 23 and is currently collecting signatures.
- A discharge petition bypasses the Speaker and Democrat-controlled committees to bring the measure directly to the House of Representatives for consideration.
- To succeed, a discharge petition needs at least 218 signatures.
- As of 10/5, the discharge petition has 182 signatures.
- The day after the discharge petition was introduced, Speaker Pelosi was asked whether she supports the requirement for legislation to be available for 72 hours before consideration. She responded, “Absolutely.” But if Speaker Pelosi “absolutely” supported the 72-hour rule, there wouldn’t be any need for a discharge petition (the purpose of which is to bypass the Speaker).
On the Senate side of the Capitol, eight Senators (7 Democrats and 1 “Independent Democrat”) are also demanding 72 hours to examine the legislation and CBO score before voting. Also, each proposed amendment would have to be posted online for 72 hours before voting.
This is significant because Senator Reid can’t pass health reform without most (if not all) of these senators.
As far as I know, Reid hasn’t commented on the demand.
Here’s a list of senators making the 72-hour demand:
1. Sen. Lincoln (D-AR)
2. Sen. Lieberman (I-CT)
3. Sen. Bayh (D-IN)
4. Sen. Landrieu (D-LA)
5. Sen. McCaskill (D-MO)
6. Sen. Nelson (D-NE)
7. Sen. Pryor (D-AR)
8. Sen. Webb (D-VA)
Government must be open and honest. I want legislators to READ every one of the bills that he or she votes on!
John,
Good post. You upset me, though, by causing me to watch that scene above from “Three Days of the Condor.” The most upsetting line: “How do you know they’ll print it?” Unfortunately, we don’t.
Best,
David
The “Stimulus” gave seniors a one time bonus of $250. That’s approx. $5 a week for a year. Compare that to the $13 a week added to the average paycheck. Now throw in the projected cuts in Medicare, the threat ( either imagined or at least partially true), of rationing healthcare for the elderly: Guess what? Seniors think they’re now considered second class citizens. Gosh! WHERE did they get that idea from? The government. When a social worker tells a 67 year old diabetic that he can’t get his SNAP food credit increased ( even though dietic food costs 35% more on average), you know something is terribly wrong:
My husband and I were turned down for SNAP Food credit increase, twice ( He’s diabetic and we live on SSI). Which would you prefer: An extra $100 for dietic food, or $180,000 a month for Hospital costs if or when John has a Diabetic blackout or slips into a Coma? Taxpayers already pay for his SSI and VA, so its your decision. If Obama wants to prevent complications associated with diabeties, obesity, heart disease and other ailments, wouldn’t it make sense to issue specified food vouchers/ Dietic foods/Care boxes to VA clinics,Food pantries and other institutions that address the needs of Low income Americans? Why are Government Commodities ( often delivered to Non Profit Organizations) extremely high in Sodium and Carbs?
Worst of all, not ONE version of the Healthcare proposals include tax deductions or incentives to encourage responsible, healthy lifestyles: Therefore, Costs will skyrocket.
Totally agree. Good post.
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.”
…and all the king’s cosmetic surgeons…
My favorite politicians are the cosponsors of H.Res.554 that won’t sign the discharge petition. They are going to need a great high wire act to talk their way out of that in townhalls.
Main Entry: ab·so·lute·ly
Pronunciation: \ˈab-sə-ˌlüt-lē, ˌab-sə-ˈ\
Function: adverb
Date: 14th century
1 : in an absolute manner or condition —often used as an intensive
2 : with respect to absolute values
Brilliant? Values?
John, Your arguments—and presentations, are remarkably powerful. As an added benefit, you’ve given me notice of a movie worth seeing.
Can some one either tell me or lead me to the rest of the names that have signed the discharge petition.
Dr. Goodman, can you develop/drive a Petition for Citizens to Voice their Support for H. Res. 554. What a revolutionary idea!
Any chance of one for the Senate?
Citixens should read these bills too. And they will if they can. And if they can’t THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY in the next election. Do I sense that Dems are starting to tremble a little?
“What’s so terrifying about that?” A good question with a simple answer. It is terrifying to Pelosi, Reid and Obama because it exposes the Left’s agenda to the voting public, or more specifically to those citizens who actually care about what is going on in Washington. They cannot afford that kind of transparency.
Obama was elected based upon vague promises of righteous and painless change – a chicken in every pot with no taxes on the average Joe. They certainly do not want the hypocrisy of that beguilement exposed.
If resolution 554 is passed it will mean the end of Obama’s healthcare ambitions.
Pelsoi- Rangel – Dodd – Barney Franks ? why are any of them still in Office ? absolutely appalling- set of different rules- and the Tragic Attention getter from Alan Gryson to get attention- When will the RNC start making some ADS to Counter strike that A-h_le ??? As if this has anyth9ng to do with Healthcare- its all for Obamas -i work for you pledge- to SEIU- If allowed to pass – and they get a strangle on Healthcare- they will start pushing Unionized Healthcare workers Sick – this CAN NOT PASS- This guy needs to FAIL At RUINING A NATION THAT ONCE WAS THE GREATEST ON EARTH…………
John: Fox just reported that even if it were posted, that American citizens would not be able to understand or even read the legislation!!!!! I wish I could personally tell pelosi where to go and what she can do with this legislation.
that there are not problems with the thaleh insurance companies. They need to be required to meet the contract requirements of their policies. I won’t go into details here but I know because they are profit driven that they use every trick they can to get out of paying what they owe. More competition is needed. People should be free to chose instead of being forced into policies provided by their employers. And also when people are injured or die due to thaleh insurance companies denial of benefits then the legal system should step in up to and including wrongful death suites. A few successful suites would bring a lot of change for the better. My point we don’t need the government controlling thaleh care. What have they ever managed well?Thomas Jefferson said Any government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have.