Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid faces another potential
obstacle before he can wreck America health care: eight
Democratic moderates have requested that any bill be available
for 72 hours before a vote.
Reports National Journal:
Eight moderate Democrats further complicated the floor effort
Tuesday by asking Reid to post on the Internet for 72 hours the
full legislative text of a final bill and complete CBO scores
"prior to the first vote to proceed on health reform
legislation."
The moderates want the text as amended and modified CBO scores
available electronically 72 hours before a final vote on the
measure. If Reid determines he must acquiesce to the moderates
to get the bill passed, such efforts could delay a final vote
further by a few weeks at least.
"Whether or not our constituents agree with the direction of
the debate, many are frustrated and lacking accurate
information on the emerging proposals in Congress," the
senators wrote. "Without a doubt, reforming health care in
America is one of the most monumental and far-reaching
undertakings considered by this body in decades. We believe the
American public's participation in this process is critical to
our overall success of creating a bill that lowers healthcare
costs and offers access to quality and affordable health care
for all Americans."
Of course, letting people know what their supposed
representatives are voting on scares Reid and his colleagues who
are dedicated to nationalizing the health care system.
About the Author
Doug Bandow is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and the Senior Fellow in International Religious Persecution at the Institute on Religion and Public Policy. A former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is author of Beyond Good Intentions: A Biblical View of Politics (Crossway).
