Comments on: Measure Giving Americans 72 Hours to Review Health Care Reform Blocked by Democrats– What are they hiding?

By: sizzix big shot

sizzix big shot — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:21:07 +0000

I normally roam all over the internet because I have the tendancy to read often (which isn’t always a great idea because most blogs just copy from each other) but I have to say that yours contains some real substance! Thanks for stopping the trend of just being another copycat site!

By: Plain language version of health care bill leaves too many holes | Political Integrity Now

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:59:53 +0000

[...] That version does not have to be set up for the 72-hour public viewing, as the Democrats already blocked that amendment. In fact, it can be voted on immediately after construction, without being released to the [...]

By: joyce

joyce — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:19:39 +0000

The plain language is nothing more that an elaborated talking points memo for healthcare that leaves too many gaps to be filled when it comes time to translate it into the legislative language, which because of this blockage, would be constructed behind closed doors.

It’s called smoke and mirrors which is why the republicans want BOTH to be displayed for 72 hours.

By: PJ

PJ — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:59:35 +0000

Your question: Can anyone give a valid argument as to why the Democrats do not want this transparancy?

I will try. The two hours of debate over this topic amounted to a debate over whether the “plain language” of the bill with a cost estimate or the “legislative language” of the bill with a cost estimate should be posted online 72 hours before a vote. The “plain language” version won. So, Democrats on the committee supported posting the bill for review with a cost estimate for 72 hours prior to a vote. The republicans were insisting that it must be the actual legislative language that is posted. Here is my own personal take on why the “plain language” version may be better. Given the fact that the legal wording of the legislative language is difficult to read, it is far more likely to be intentionally misrepresented the way some people continue to misrepresent the “death panels” that some prominent persons read into the legislative language of another committee’s draft bill. I think an argument could be made for posting BOTH the “plain” and “legislative” language forms together. Certainly if transparency is the goal, that would be best. Also, it is interesting to note that not even the senators on the committee work on the bill in its legislative language form – that would make it too difficult to read. Here is a draft of what they are presently working on (which any person can get by going to the senate website). http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/091609%20Americas_Healthy_Future_Act.pdf In my opinion this was just a 2 hour stall by Republicans that are dragging this out in every way they can think of.