Major policy decisions, such as whether or not there will be a government run "public" option, are being made. Backroom deals are being cut – all in secret. No C-SPAN cameras allowed.
What Did Liberals Learn From the Townhalls? Shut Out the Troublemakers
It's not like Americans have been apathetic about the future of our health care. Since this process began, we've demanded to know what is happening.
Last summer, Americans filled townhall meetings, many armed with copies of the 1000+ page bill that had been filed in the House – a bill that most lawmakers had never read.
And the more we learned, the less we supported the Pelosi Plan.
But what did Speaker Pelosi and the other supporters of liberal health care reform learn? How did they decide to use this input from the American people?
After August, Liberals Were More Determined Than Ever to Ram Through a Bill
Some began cancelling town hall meetings. Others actually carded people in the audience to make sure they lived in their district. Still others began verbally chastising the citizens who asked questions.
Upon their return to Washington, it was clear that they had discounted what they heard at the town hall meetings. It was as if their meetings with the American people had never happened.
They were more determined than ever to ram through legislation.
Democrats Blocked an Attempt to Require That Bills Be Posted Online
In the Senate, the Finance Committee decided to pass a vague proposal – containing no legislative details or cost analysis – and allow no opportunity for the American people or their elected representatives to know what was being considered until after it was done.
During the process, Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) introduced an amendment to require that all bills be publicly available for 72 hours with legislative text and an official budget analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) prior to being considered.
The Democrats blocked the amendment, never allowing it to get fair and full consideration by the Senate, even though eight Senate Democrats supported the requirement. Senators Bayh (Ind.), Lincoln (Ark.), Pryor (Ark.), McCaskill (Mo.), Landrieu (La.), Nelson (Neb.), Lieberman (Conn.) and Webb (Va.), should be commended for later contacting the leadership urging them to support the change.
"When We Come Back In September, I Will be Available to Answer Any Question That Members of Congress Have"
It appears clear that the decision has been made to ignore the promise President Obama made to worried Americans in the summer of 2008 and again last July when he declared:
"So I just want everybody to know, Congress will have time to read the bill. They will have time to debate the bill. They will have all of August to review the various legislative proposals. When we come back in September, I will be available to answer any question that members of Congress have. If they want to come over to the White House and go over line by line what's going on, I will be happy to do that."
It is unfortunate that the Democratic leadership has decided it would be easier to rush their legislation through rather than honoring the people's right to know.
Then again, maybe that choice is all Americans need to know when judging the Democrats' healthcare bill.
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