Posted on 08/25/2010 11:01:32 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), one of the chief authors of the healthcare law, suggested Tuesday he did not read the entire piece of legislation.
Speaking at a forum in his home state, Baucus and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius were asked by an audience member if they had read the whole bill and “if not, that is the most despicable, irresponsible thing.”
“I don’t think you want me to waste my time to read every page of the healthcare bill,” Baucus said, according to the Flathead Beacon. “You know why? It’s statutory language. ... We hire experts.”
Republicans, who opposed the law in lockstep, frequently criticized Democrats for the length of the bill and often pressed members if they had read the legislation or not. In March, Congress passed the legislation and President Obama signed the 961-page final bill into law.
At least one Democratic lawmaker, Sen. Claire McCaskill (Mo.) made a public showing of reading the bill.
Democrats dismissed the criticism, saying it did not have anything do to with the contents of the legislation.
At the town-hall event, Baucus defended the sweeping law.
“It’s not perfect, nothing’s perfect, but I’m telling you, ma’am, it’s a good start,” Baucus said. “Mark my words, several years from now you’re going to look back and say, ‘Eh, maybe it isn’t so bad.’ ”
So, we are governed by anonymous technocrats. Swell.
We hired YOU, Mr. Baucus, to do a job; and you are not doing it. When are you up for election?
It would be funny to sneak an obscure line into the next 1000 page bill outlawing abortion and see if they change their tune on the importance of reading the bill.
In November, I want to see the air peppered with this quote and the one from Pelosi where she says that “we have to pass the Bill to find out what’s in it.” Let’s get rid of the brain dead in DC.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus... suggested Tuesday he did not read the entire piece of legislation or
any part of the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights.
Just as the brilliant, really smart, intellectual
Ms. Pelosi stated, “You’ll find out what’s in it after it’s passed.” (Don’t you stupid dolts out there know that
The Speaker of the House knows what’s best for you??
/sarcasm/
Brilliant strategy. We need a mole.
This is a winner of an issue and should be pounded endlessly. This is political malpractice.
They backdoored that bill because they knew they had to, and didn’t bother to read the darn thing. No transparency, no open debate, nothing.
Just this issue alone should cost the Dems 20 seats in the House. If any of those spineless Republicans have a brain, they will beat their incumbent Democrat opponents bloody with this.
“Let’s get rid of the brain dead in DC.”
Then there won’t be anybody there at all. Not a bad thing.
“Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus... suggested Tuesday he did not read the entire piece of legislation or
any part of the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights.”
I had to pass a series of tests for my job. The same is true of doctors, lawyers, nurses, plumbers, electricians, etc.
I would be STRONGLY in favor of a test for those who want to be representatives. A comprehensive test on the constitution, and bill of rights.
Actually, yes, I do. You ARE, after all, the legislators. If you won't even read the legislation, then you aren't doing your job and need to be "fired" post haste.
“I don’t think you want me to waste my time to read every page of the healthcare bill,” Baucus said, according to the Flathead Beacon. “You know why? It’s statutory language. ... We hire experts.”
The follow-up question should have been: WHO WROTE THE DAMN THING!!! They didn’t read it and they didn’t write it, so did any of them really know what the hell it said?! Or did they just vote the way Reid/Pelosi/Obama/Rahm/Axelrod told them to vote?
Any bill that they cannot read, write, and understand should not be passed. PERIOD.
Just like being told to sign a piece of paper before te contract verbage is printed on it ! What dumb$h!ts ! Any person with a quarter of common sense that if they cannot read the language, they should vote against it. In fact if a bill is a 1000 pages too long, it should be voted against in its entirety and instead, each piece is put in as a single item bill, gets debated and voted on. Unfortunately when the Republicans controlled the house, they also had these huge bills and attached riders such as the controversial Real ID Act that was attached to a must pass bill. This chicanery needs to end regardless who is in office.
> Pelosi where she says that “we have to pass the Bill to find out what’s in it
I’d like to see a single line slipped in abolishing the income tax code.
Great idea.
On second thought, who’s gonna write the test?
” Unfortunately when the Republicans controlled the house, they also had these huge bills and attached riders such as the controversial Real ID Act that was attached to a must pass bill. This chicanery needs to end regardless who is in office.”
Very good point. Let their ideas stand on a straight on the issue vote. Not a “ I have to vote for this to get that”
So you propose anarchy?
“On second thought, who’s gonna write the test?”
It would require a few folks, not just one.
I’d put Hugh Hewitt on it. I can think of others I’d trust, but I can’t think of anyone on the left I’d trust to write the questions.
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