Amazingly, neither Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, Nev) nor Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D, Calif) want to give Congress or the public much time to read the upcoming Healthcare bills they are rushing through their respective chambers before forcing a “yes” or “no” vote on them.
In a recent interview, Senator Reid was asked if he’d commit to giving the Senate and the public a week to digest any healthcare “reform” bill before he brought the bill up for a vote. Reid however, refused to make such a commitment.
Reid allowed less than two days before forcing a Senate vote on the stimulus bill and many expect him to do the same with any healthcare legislation. He was unapologetic over refusing to allow his fellows or the public to digest the legislation before the vote.
Similarly, Speaker of the House Pelosi refused to commit to allowing a week for any healthcare bill that comes under her purview. Pelosi claimed that the “regular order” is to allow 48 hours for amendments and another day before a vote can be taken.
The president’s expectations for healthcare, including the “public plan” option, is expected to force a government take over of nearly 20 percent of our nation’s economy, yet neither majority leader in Congress will give the public any time to read this bill and figure out what is in it before they rush to judgment.
House Democrats pulled a similar stunt with the recent Cap and Trade bill. At three in the morning on the day that House Democrats hurried up a vote on the bill, 300 pages of amendments was added to the bill in committee. But, even as Democrats were forcing a vote on the bill, no one had ever seen the whole bill because a complete copy of the legislation hadn’t yet been created by anyone.
In essence, Pelosi was forcing a vote on a bill of which an actual copy of the full legislation did not even exist. Outrageously the House voted to pass a bill that did not officially exist.
This is the sort of shenanigans that candidate Barack Obama claimed to stand against to great fanfare and applause. During the campaign Obama promised to allow the country to have five days to read on line every bill he’d sign.
Sadly, Obama has yet to keep his campaign pledge to let Americans see a bill for five days before he signs it. For instance, He signed the SCHIP law only three hours after it left Congress. Neither did he post the omnibus spending bill, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Play Act, in fact nearly a dozen bills have been signed without observing the five-day sunlight promise made by the president on the campaign trail. The sad truth is no bill signing has fulfilled his promise for any “sunlight” or “transparency.”
In the end, the expectation is that in the healthcare bill, we will see one of the most socialist styled laws ever put before Congress pushed through by partisan forces in direct contravention to both good governing and Barack Obama’s own promise of “transparency.”
Why the rush, Mr. President? Why not actually stay true to your own promises on healthcare and transparency? Will you, Mr. President, and your partisan attack dogs in Congress, allow the public and our elected officials to actually read the legislation you want passed before they are forced to vote on it? If not, why not?
Do you have something against people actually knowing what you are trying to slip by them, Mr. President? Do you so hate an informed vote?
Sorry to keep posting this but
snewb098 Monday, July 6th at 8:44AM EDT (link)These senators below are up for re-election in 2010.
It’s not important which party they represent since they are the basically the same now
and work for lobbyists and special interests not the voters and constitution.
This was proven by the 900 earmarks in the stimulus plan and why Lindsay Graham
voted for amnesty in 2007 because he wasn’t up for re-election. The majority
of voters in South Carolina were furious at him but could do nothing since he wasn’t up for relection.
If those listed below are voted in, they will remain for SIX more years.
The only one I trust that puts America’s interest first is Jim DeMint (South Carolina)
By the way, if you call the main number (202) 225-3121, it will be busy or the lines may have been overloaded.
Don’t bother with Email anymore..They just delete it.
Be polite to them but stand FIRM in that you will vote for the opposition
in 2010 if they vote against your wishes.
Blanche Lincoln (Arkansas)-home office 501-375-2993 / D.C. office (202) 224-4843
Barbara Boxer (California)-home office 415-403-0100 / D.C. office (202) 224-3553
Daniel Inouye (Hawaii)-home office 808-541-2542 / D.C. office (202) 224-3934
Evan Bayh (Indiana)-home office 317-554-0750 / D.C. office (202) 224-5623
Barbara Mikulski (Maryland)-home office 410-962-4510 / D.C. office (202) 224-4654
Harry Reid (Nevada)-home office 702-388-5020 / D.C. office (202) 224-3542
Chuck Schumer (New York)-home office 212-486-4430 / D.C. office (202) 224-6542
Byron Dorgan (North Dakota)-home office 701-239-5389 / D.C. office (202) 224-2551
Ron Wyden (Oregon)-home office 503-326-7525 / D.C. office (202) 224-5244
Patrick Leahy (Vermont)-home office 802 863-2525 / D.C. office (202) 224-4242
Russ Feingold (Wisconsin)-home office 414 276-7282 / D.C. office (202) 224-5323
Richard Shelby (Alabama)-home office 205 731-1384 / D.C. office (202) 224-5744
Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)-home office 907 271-3735 / D.C. office (202) 224-6665
John McCain (Arizona)-home office 602 279-5146 / D.C. office (202) 224-2235
Johnny Isakson (Georgia)-home office 770 661-0999 / D.C. office (202) 224-3643
Mike Crapo (Idaho)-home office 208 334-1776 / D.C. office (202) 224-6142
Chuck Grassley (Iowa)-home office 515 288-1145 / D.C. office (202) 224-3744
Jim Bunning (Kentucky)-home office 859-341-2602 / D.C. office (202) 224-4343
David Vitter (Louisiana)-home office 318-448-0169 / D.C. office (202) 224-4623
Kit Bond (Missouri)-home office 573-634-2488 / D.C. office (202) 224-5721
Judd Gregg (New Hampshire)-home office 603-622-7979 / D.C. office (202) 224-3324
Richard Burr (North Carolina)-home office 828-350-2437 / D.C. office (202) 224-3154
George Voinovich (Ohio)-home office 216-522-7095 / D.C. office (202) 224-3353
Tom Coburn (Oklahoma)-home office 405-231-4941 / D.C. office (202) 224-5754
Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania)-home office 215-597-7200 / D.C. office (202) 224-4254
Jim DeMint (South Carolina) (not relevant..true American)
John Thune (South Dakota)-home office 605 334-9596 / D.C. office (202) 224-2321
Bob Bennet (Utah)-home office 801 524-5933 / D.C. office (202) 224-5444
Christopher Dodd (Connecticut)-home office 860 258-6940 / D.C. office (202) 224-2823
Voinovich is retiring...
KeepOhioRed Monday, July 6th at 8:57AM EDT (link)might want to take him off the list.
No trust for Coburn?
naraht Monday, July 6th at 9:21AM EDT (link)Please let me know *anything* that Senator Tom Coburn has done in his time in Congress to make you think that he would vote for Obama’s healthcare plan. If you want to go back to his time in the house, go ahead. I’ll be waiting.
You left our Bennett of Colorado. Appointed when Salazar became Interior Sec.
USNJIMRET Monday, July 6th at 10:23AM EDT (link)He has no, not even State wide, previous election experience. Not only never held a State level elected office, never even ran for one.
Personal friend and buddy of the current Democrat Governor, only reason, IMO, he got the nod.
Vote track to date has been solidly whatever Reid wants.
So he’d vote for this, no question at all
Up for first ever election in 2010. Depending on established Dem machine to get him through the process.
And, while I firmly believe that new blood is needed regularly in Government, hand picked new blood is to closely screened by the old blood.
I've found faxes to be effective...you should add fax numbers to the list...nt
AceInTX Monday, July 6th at 10:53AM EDT (link)House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
This is just
snewb098 Monday, July 6th at 11:55AM EDT (link)A general list and I honestly don’t know everyone’s position
on the issues except DeMint.. The point is these are the ones that are up for re-election in 2010 and since all they care about is being re-elected especially for another 6 years if they fear being voted out they might do something.Here’s an example. Before the Tarp Plan went to final vote back on Oct 13th? Dianne Feinstein publicly stated that almost 90% of the calls she received were against the Tarp plan. She said and I quote “people are confused and don’t understand the issues..”
Yet she voted for it anyway. I wonder when she is up for re-election? 2012 probably. How about Lindsay Graham who in July2007 received thousands of calls against amnesty almost 75% against but since he wasn’t up for re-election in 2008 he didn’t care and voted for amnesty.
That’s my only point. They don’t care what you think unless they are up for re-election.
I can tell you about Coburn...
wrenhal Monday, July 6th at 8:02PM EDT (link)Unless we get him to run again, he has set himself to a limited term, just as he did in his house run. Please remove him from that list. He does not need to be goaded to anything. Just read his senate site as he is VERY much against the pork and crap coming out of Washington.
"Sadly"?? Seems far to mild a word.
USNJIMRET Monday, July 6th at 8:49AM EDT (link)The constant “crisis” mentality of ‘gotta do it now, now, NOW’ that has marked every one of these monster spending, growth and control packages is indefensible treason to the concept of a Representative Democratic Republic!
In fact, to this observer, it seems to have much more in common with the Soviet style of rule. All we’re missing, so far, is a “five year plan”.
If you don't think we are living under a banana republic dictatorship,
Tbone Monday, July 6th at 9:24AM EDT (link)you are pretty clueless.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
transparency you can belive in - or was it opacity? n/t
ciscoguy Monday, July 6th at 10:25AM EDT (link).
READ it?!!!
Paul_In_Houston Monday, July 6th at 10:59AM EDT (link)Well, Golly Gee! What would WE know?
THEY’RE the experts.
All we gotta do is TRUST them.
Right?
RIGHT?!!
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Republicans have a way out of this but they haven't used it...
AceInTX Monday, July 6th at 11:06AM EDT (link)One of the things required in order for these bills to be voted on is that they be read into the congressional record. Bills are always entered into the congressional record as read though it was never really read. In order to do this, a congressman or Senator makes a motion that the bill be dispensed with and entered into the Congressional Record as read. The Spekear pro tem and Senate President then rules, “without objection” and the bill is ready to be voted on..
My understanding is…if one Senator or Congressman objects…the bill must be read…or there has to be a vote to approve the motion…one or two brave Republicans should start objecting to every single bill and Amendment being entered into the Congressional Record as read and force a vote…Then go on every media outlet available to trumpet the reason for his actions.
This would lock up the Senate and slow things down to such an extent that the press would have to cover the “Gridlock” in the House and Senate allowing Republicans the opportunity to spread the message even further.
Why McConnel, Boehner and the rest of the go along to get along leadership hasn’t done this is beyond me…but Pence, DeMint, Coburn and any other Republican could do it and win themselves hero status from the base!
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
IOW they will treat this bill with the same care as other major bills this year
bk Monday, July 6th at 12:15PM EDT (link)Another huge bill that will not get read
Leopard1996 Monday, July 6th at 6:51PM EDT (link)And my dumbass congress critter will vote yea on because he wants his pat on the head from the Dem liberal leadership.
“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen