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Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote

By on 9.23.09 @ 12:18PM

Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee killed an amendment proposed by Sen. Jim Bunning that would have required the committee to have the legislative language of its health care bill evaluated by the Congressional Budget Office before voting on it.

Currently, the only version of Chairman Max Baucus's proposal we have is a 223-page draft (PDF) that is written in plain English and explains the bill in conceptual terms. Republicans argued that until the bill is written in legislative language it will be impossible for the CBO to provide an accurate cost estimate.

The Bunning ammendment would have required the committee to have the legislative language of the bill, along with the CBO cost estimate, posted on the internet for 72 hours before a vote.

Democrats argued that waiting for the legislative languange to be written, and for the CBO to evaluate it, would needlessly delay the process by weeks.

"Let's be honest about it, most people don't read the legislative language," Sen. John Kerry said.

The Bunning amendment was defeated by a 12 to 11 vote, with Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln the only Democrat voting in favor.

Instead, the committee adopted an amendment by Baucus that doesn't require the legislative language to be written, but that does require a CBO estimate based on the plain English version.

View all comments (41) | Leave a comment

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 12:34PM

Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Democrats Kill Amendmen links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Philip Klein amspec American Spectator 111 Show more Shortened Links Linking to the spectator.org page http://bit.ly/5gmDY info   2 tweets Tweet The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a spectator.org/blog/2009/09/23/democrats-kill-amendment-requi – view page – cached Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written…

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 12:39PM

Michelle Malkin » Dems lied, transparency died: Senate Finance Committee nixes Obamac links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…legislative language that ultimately becomes law, and which the GOP amendment would have required. Democrats accepted an alternate amendment to make conceptual language available online before a vote. Philip Klein has more: Currently, the only version of Chairman Max Baucus’s proposal we have is a 223-page draft (PDF) that is written in plain English and explains the bill in conceptual terms. Republicans…

BigJava| 9.23.09 @ 12:58PM

In plain English to the American taxpayer, "Bend over and get ready!"

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 2:28PM

Vaporbill – One Of The Most Dishonest Ways To Pass Healthcare Reform. | The Substratu links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…H.R., healthcare, HELP, heritage foundation, house, HR, human events, Obama, obamacare, redstate, Republican, senate, senate finance committee, TARP, vaporbill Update: Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote. Very interesting given the information below. Maybe this is more serious than I thought. Redstate titles the post Even the grizzled Senate Veterans Found this Amazing —…

MarkJ| 9.23.09 @ 2:53PM

"Brains" Baucus is just begging for a revolution, isn't he? Max, baby, there is a line drawn by the American public that you don't dare step over. And you just stepped over it.

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 3:05PM

Baucus Mafia Stifles Dissent - BrianFaughnan’s blog - RedState links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…and warning lobbyists that they need to make sure they’re on ‘the right team.’ Had I written that post a few hours later, I would have included Baucus’ push to hide the actual language of his health care bill until after the Finance Committee had approved it, and his use of a former staffer to muzzle those who disagree with him: Jonathan Blum, the administration official at the center of…

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 3:17PM

Obama Speaks, Again links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Today’s must read: Health Reform Is Just Subterfuge; Dream Is Democratic Dictatorship from IBDeditorials.com Commentary and Cartoons Why worry about the details? Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote from The American Spectator and AmSpecBlog by Philip Klein FCC’s Diversity Czar: ‘White People’ Need to be Forced to ‘Step Down’ ‘So…

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 3:34PM

Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote - Politica links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…2007 Location: Philadelphia Gender: Posts: 12,976 Thanks: 302 Thanked 3,893 Times in 2,791 Posts Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote Quote: Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee killed an amendment proposed by Sen. Jim Bunning that would have required the committee to have the legislative language…

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 4:12PM

Well, so much for the Administration of Transparency.... - XDTalk Forums - Your HS20 links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…legislative language that ultimately becomes law, and which the GOP amendment would have required. Democrats accepted an alternate amendment to make conceptual language available online before a vote. Philip Klein has more: Currently, the only version of Chairman Max Baucus’s proposal we have is a 223-page draft (PDF) that is written in plain English and explains the bill in conceptual terms. Republicans argued…

GJMerits| 9.23.09 @ 4:51PM

Looks like this may be a non-story. Just got an email from Dr. Larry Hunter:

Just so much background noise. “concept bills” in the Finance Committee have a long and venerable tradition going back to Russell Long. Must keep our eyes on the balls in play. R&R. — RINOCare & Reconciliation. (http://tinyurl.com/n7jl3m).

Still not sure about the Vaporbill concept (see above). That may still have some legs. I am awaiting a response from someone more knowledgeable about such things than I.

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 4:53PM

Baucus Mafia Stifles Dissent | Social Debate: Barack and American Politics links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

Baucus Mafia Stifles Dissent | Social Debate: Barack and American

Trackback| 9.23.09 @ 6:14PM

The American Spectator » Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written , on Stop Un-American Healthcare, links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

The American Spectator » Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote

lookkool| 9.23.09 @ 6:44PM

To bad you guys arent going to slow this down anymore 50 years is enough. And lets face it 99% of you wouldnt know what you were reading anyway.

Victor| 9.23.09 @ 7:58PM

That's why you voted for him isn't it?
He knows so much more about things than you do or ever will.
You sign every thing without reading it?
Or knowing something about it?
We are slowing it down and we will exact payment in one form or another.
My money does not belong to you.

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 7:36PM

Most Transparent Administration Ever « Road to the RNC links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…not so much. The GOP has attempted to put an amendment into the health care overhaul bill that would require the bill to be available online for 72 hours before there is a vote, and the Senate Finance Committee Democrats said “no.”  Nice.  Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee killed an amendment proposed by Sen. Jim Bunning that would have required the committee to have the legislative…

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 7:52PM

GayPatriot » Senate Democrats Refuse to Post Healthcare Bill Online Before Vote links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…have postponed a vote for weeks, refusing in JammieWearingFool’s words “ to even let the public see what they plan to ram down our throats. ”  (H/t Instapundit.) What’s fascinating is that . . the only version of Chairman Max Baucus’s proposal we have is a  223-page draft (PDF) that is written in plain English and explains the bill in conceptual terms. Republicans argued that…

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 8:14PM

The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be F links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote | Sep 24th 2009 Click on this url: The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote Shared via AddThis Posted in Uncategorized No Comments Yet » Say something? Comments RSS Click here to cancel reply. TrackBack URI You must be…

Pingback| 9.23.09 @ 11:20PM

Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote - Politica links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…2007 Location: Philadelphia Gender: Posts: 12,982 Thanks: 302 Thanked 3,897 Times in 2,794 Posts Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote Quote: Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee killed an amendment proposed by Sen. Jim Bunning that would have required the committee to have the legislative language…

Nick| 9.24.09 @ 12:23AM

Lincoln is the only one up for re-election next year, that's why she voted for it.

The other democrats are hoping their constituents forget before their next election.

Let's hope their opponents remind them.

Stan Redmond| 9.24.09 @ 12:51AM

Just wait and see how fast this will change when the republicans regain the majority in congress. One of these days the democrats will have to sit back while republicans play this game on them.

Pingback| 9.24.09 @ 12:57AM

Dems vote to keep you in the dark on Baucus bill « America, You Asked For It! links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

News and Commentary from the Right Home #TCOT Targets Say What??? About Me Dems vote to keep you in the dark on Baucus bill Today Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee refused to approve a Republican amendment to make the full text of Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-MT) bill available to the public 72 hours before a vote. Democrats in the Senate are determined not to repeat the…

Pingback| 9.24.09 @ 3:00AM

Obama’s contempt for the First Amendment [Darleen Click] links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Mitch McConnell took exception to these thug tactics after Max Baucus, the Democrat leader of the Finance Committee trying to ram through healthcare with no debate, indeed, without even allowing people to read it, boasted about shutting down opposition. Now it appears that the person at CMS that sent out those threatening letters was one Jonathan Blum CMS has named Jonathan Blum as the director of (CMM). Blum…

Pingback| 9.24.09 @ 5:51AM

Baucus Mafia Stifles Dissent | WTF?! Obama links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…and warning lobbyists that they need to make sure they’re on ‘the right team.’ Had I written that post a few hours later, I would have included Baucus’ push to hide the actual language of his health care bill until after the Finance Committee had approved it, and his use of a former staffer to muzzle those who disagree with him: Jonathan Blum, the administration official at the center of…

Pingback| 9.24.09 @ 6:24AM

Senate Democrats… « Time for Thorns links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

Time for Thorns Time for Thorns An independent view on life. Senate Democrats… leave a comment » Lest you believe Democrats are operating in good faith on health care reform,  read this account of the Senate Finance Committee killing Jim Bunning’s amendment,  which would have required the committee to have the legislative language of its health care bill evaluated by the…

Pingback| 9.24.09 @ 7:13AM

Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote - Politica links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…2007 Location: Philadelphia Gender: Posts: 12,987 Thanks: 302 Thanked 3,900 Times in 2,795 Posts Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote Democrats Kill Amendment Requiring Bill To Be Fully Written Before a Vote Quote: Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee killed an amendment proposed by Sen. Jim Bunning that would have required the committee to have the legislative language…

Pingback| 9.24.09 @ 7:16AM

Dems vote to keep you in the dark on Baucus bill call fax them now! | DC Smell Report links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Dems+vote+to+keep+you+in+the+dark+on+Baucus+bill+call+fax+them+now%21+ 2009-09-24+11%3A16%3A15 admin By America, You Asked For It! Today Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee refused to approve a Republican amendment to make the full text of Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-MT) bill available to the public 72 hours before a vote. Democrats in the Senate are determined not to repeat the biggest…

Pingback| 9.24.09 @ 9:35AM

The Patriot's Flag » Democrats Lied-Transparency Died links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Such Democrat “arrogance” is far over the line.  All this does is continue to solidify our thoughts and our platform to change things in 2010 … just to get rid of the arrogance! From Philip Klein: The Bunning amendment would have required the committee to have the legislative language of the bill, along with the CBO cost estimate, posted on the internet for 72 hours before a vote. Democrats…

Pingback| 9.24.09 @ 11:40AM

Democrats are playing Political Games with the American Voter's HealthCare links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…The Bunning ammendment would have required the committee to have the legislative language of the bill, along with the CBO cost estimate, posted on the internet for 72 hours before a vote. The American Spectator The Democrats don't want us to know the costs. The Democrats don't want us to read the bill because they can't defend their crap. And they want to deal in abstract "concepts" making…

Pingback| 9.24.09 @ 9:00PM

The Rejects: Amendments Not Added to Baucuscare Bill « Healthcare Horserace links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Senator Jim Bunning, “ would have required the committee to have the legislative language of its health care bill evaluated by the Congressional Budget Office before voting on it,” according to the American Spectator. It was narrowly defeated in a 12-11 vote, with Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln being the sole Democrat on the Senate Committee on Finance to vote in its favor. Key Democrats on the committee…

Pingback| 9.29.09 @ 3:07PM

UCRCC: MEETING REMINDER | Union County Republican Central Committee links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…of comments was “read the bill”, Democrat Senator Ron Wyden decided that it was not important to read the healthcare legislation before the United States Senate votes on it: http://spectator.org/blog/2009/09/23/democrats-kill-amendment-requi Here is the list of Senators on the Senate Finance Committee:   http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=sfina You can contact Senator Ron Wyden to…

Pingback| 10.1.09 @ 5:08PM

Transparency ? Democrats Refuse to Post Health Care Bill Online « www.offmyfrontporch links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…a delay tactic that could have postponed a vote for weeks,” refusing, in JammieWearingFool’s words “ to even let the public see what they plan to ram down our throats. ”  (H/t Instapundit.) What’s fascinating is that . . the only version of Chairman Max Baucus’s proposal we have is a  223-page draft (PDF) that is written in plain English and explains the bill in conceptual terms. Republicans argued that until…

Pingback| 10.3.09 @ 5:26PM

Health Care: Democrats Upset That Republicans Would Hold Them Responsible For Their L links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…own damn bills, they now refuse to allow YOU a chance to read them either, essentially claiming that you are too stupid to understand them.  Moreover, Democrats have ave voted against even bothering to require that bills even be written before they are voted upon. It’s long past  (and I mean two years of false campaign promises in addition to the last nine months past) holding Democrats accountable to…

Pingback| 10.3.09 @ 5:31PM

Health Care: Democrats Upset That Republicans Would Hold Them Responsible For Their F links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…own damn bills, they now refuse to allow YOU a chance to read them either, essentially claiming that you are too stupid to understand them.  Moreover, Democrats have ave voted against even bothering to require that bills even be written before they are voted upon. It’s long past  (and I mean two years of false campaign promises in addition to the last nine months past) holding Democrats accountable to…

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