Behind closed doors, in secret, a few members of majority leadership are now writing health care reform bills. Apparently the open debates of the last few months were nothing but dog and pony shows. Majority leadership is drafting the bills they want. These bills will be written in a lengthy, convoluted manner to hide what is in them. The bills will then be rushed through Congress; so that neither the public nor members of Congress actually know what goodies are concealed.
What happened to the transparency that we, the voters, were promised? Legislation was not to be drafted in secret. Meetings were to be broadcast on C-Span. The public would know what was happening and what was in proposed legislation. Bills would be posted on-line 72 hours before Congress voted on them. I am waiting for these promises to be kept, but I am not holding my breath. They were probably only the promises of campaigning politicians.
It is up to moderate Democrats and Republicans to insist that they and the public be allowed time to read these bills. They must also insist that sufficient time is allowed to discuss the bills and for the public to express their opinions. This legislation will affect one-sixth of our economy and our very lives. Congress needs to get this right!
Showing posts with label legislation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label legislation. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Unweildy Legislation
In the words of James Madison: "It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood."
Congress needs to pay heed to this words. Bills currently being written are routinely over one thousand pages long. They are written as obtusely as possible. This is deliberate. The writers do not want anyone, Congress included, to read or understand the bills. Much can be hidden in lengthy, convoluted bills. Representative Hoyer said the health care bill would not pass if you had to read it. Frequently, these bills are not written by our elected officials. They are written by staff, attorneys, selected "experts" and even by lobbyists. Is it too much to expect that our actual elected representatives write the bills?
Representative Waxman admitted that even he did not know all that was in the Energy Bill. He is the chairman of the committee that wrote the bill. Congress is voting on bills that they not only did not read, but on bills that they did not write. Congress is voting blindly. Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government. That is just pitiful! The people of this country deserve better representation.
Let us return to the sentiments of Madison. The body of the Constitution is only twenty pages long. It is easily understandable. I would challenge Congress to follow the example of the Constitution. Ban any legislation over one hundred pages in length and require that all legislation be written in clear, understandable language. Also pledge that you will read all bills before voting on them.
Congress needs to pay heed to this words. Bills currently being written are routinely over one thousand pages long. They are written as obtusely as possible. This is deliberate. The writers do not want anyone, Congress included, to read or understand the bills. Much can be hidden in lengthy, convoluted bills. Representative Hoyer said the health care bill would not pass if you had to read it. Frequently, these bills are not written by our elected officials. They are written by staff, attorneys, selected "experts" and even by lobbyists. Is it too much to expect that our actual elected representatives write the bills?
Representative Waxman admitted that even he did not know all that was in the Energy Bill. He is the chairman of the committee that wrote the bill. Congress is voting on bills that they not only did not read, but on bills that they did not write. Congress is voting blindly. Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government. That is just pitiful! The people of this country deserve better representation.
Let us return to the sentiments of Madison. The body of the Constitution is only twenty pages long. It is easily understandable. I would challenge Congress to follow the example of the Constitution. Ban any legislation over one hundred pages in length and require that all legislation be written in clear, understandable language. Also pledge that you will read all bills before voting on them.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Political Responsibility
Democrats now completely control the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. They now are completely responsible for any legislation that is enacted. They and they alone will be held accountable. They will own the results of that legislation. No one else will bear the blame. They are the stewards of our future.
It is hoped they will act responsibly with full knowledge of that responsibility. It is hoped they will make informed decisions and will be willing to listen to all points of view. It is hoped they will consider the opinions of the American people.
This is a perilous time. Decisions made now will have far reaching effect. This is not a time to act in haste. It is a time to be deliberate and thoughtful. It is a time to make decisions that are based on what is best for the country and not what is best for the party.
It is a time to show that you are an American first.
Signed,
The Electorate
It is hoped they will act responsibly with full knowledge of that responsibility. It is hoped they will make informed decisions and will be willing to listen to all points of view. It is hoped they will consider the opinions of the American people.
This is a perilous time. Decisions made now will have far reaching effect. This is not a time to act in haste. It is a time to be deliberate and thoughtful. It is a time to make decisions that are based on what is best for the country and not what is best for the party.
It is a time to show that you are an American first.
Signed,
The Electorate
Monday, June 15, 2009
Housing Crisis and "Toxic Assets"
From April 16, 2009:
To Congress,
This recession started with the housing crisis. Banks were faltering under the burden of a massive number of loans that could not be repaid. These "toxic assets" threatened our entire financial system. Why would banks approve loans, which they had to know, could not be repaid? They did this because they were required to approve these loans by the federal government.
Starting with the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 , and extended by such bills as the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Security and Soundness Act of 1992, banks were required by law to grant these unsound loans. By 2001, over 50% of home mortgages had to meet the requirements set in these acts. How did anyone expect banks to survive, much less prosper, under these conditions? My question is why aren't these acts being repealed? If we want our financial institutions to be sound, why are we forcing them to operate using unsound business practices?
Signed,
The Electorate
To Congress,
This recession started with the housing crisis. Banks were faltering under the burden of a massive number of loans that could not be repaid. These "toxic assets" threatened our entire financial system. Why would banks approve loans, which they had to know, could not be repaid? They did this because they were required to approve these loans by the federal government.
Starting with the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 , and extended by such bills as the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Security and Soundness Act of 1992, banks were required by law to grant these unsound loans. By 2001, over 50% of home mortgages had to meet the requirements set in these acts. How did anyone expect banks to survive, much less prosper, under these conditions? My question is why aren't these acts being repealed? If we want our financial institutions to be sound, why are we forcing them to operate using unsound business practices?
Signed,
The Electorate
Continuing on the Health Care Theme
From June 8, 2009:
Congress is considering more middle class taxes. Before the elections, candidates promised not to raise taxes on the middle class. Now thy propose taxing health benefits from work as income. This will increase our taxes by approximately two thousand dollars a year. We cannot afford more taxes. We are struggling to keep our heads above water now. Don't pile more taxes on our shoulders. When we go under, you will too.
There is a big difference between want and need. Congress wants a massive health care plan that will eventually cover everyone. What Congress needs is a plan - preferably within private plans and supplemented by government financial help for lower incomes - for the 16% who are uninsured. Not only do we not want the government involved in our medical decisions, but we can't afford the tax increases that would be required to pay for this all inclusive government health care plan.
From June 9, 2009:
84% of Americans have health care insurance and 16% do not. Do you really think that the 84% want a government run plan? Any government run plans has to contain rationing, since there are not enough health care providers. Do you think the 84% want to wait months to see a doctor? Do they want government bureaucrat to determine what treatment they are allowed to have or, even worse, the treatment they are denied because it is not deemed "cost effective?"
The stimulus bill set up a committee that would determine what treatment is cost effective. The cost of treatment would be divided by the number of years the patient could benefit from it. Do you think the 84% want the government to determine what treatment they are allowed; what doctor they see; or, what medicine they take? Do you think the 84% want the government to make their life and death decisions?
Obviously, the answer is a resounding NO. We also don't want our benefits to be taxed to provide the benefits for the 16%. We can't afford our current taxes?
From June 10, 2009:
Please do not create a massive government run health care plan. We already have Medicaid and Medicare and cannot afford them. They are, at best, inferior plans filled with billing corruptions, limited treatments and medications, an subjective decisions by bureaucrats. They demonstrate how a national government health care plan would work - badly. Only 16% of Americans do not have health care insurance. Create a plan within the private sector to insure these citizens. The government could supplement insurance payments for those whose income meets a certain criteria. Do not create a one size fits all government run plan and do not tax health care benefits as income to try to force us into that plan.
Congress is considering more middle class taxes. Before the elections, candidates promised not to raise taxes on the middle class. Now thy propose taxing health benefits from work as income. This will increase our taxes by approximately two thousand dollars a year. We cannot afford more taxes. We are struggling to keep our heads above water now. Don't pile more taxes on our shoulders. When we go under, you will too.
There is a big difference between want and need. Congress wants a massive health care plan that will eventually cover everyone. What Congress needs is a plan - preferably within private plans and supplemented by government financial help for lower incomes - for the 16% who are uninsured. Not only do we not want the government involved in our medical decisions, but we can't afford the tax increases that would be required to pay for this all inclusive government health care plan.
From June 9, 2009:
84% of Americans have health care insurance and 16% do not. Do you really think that the 84% want a government run plan? Any government run plans has to contain rationing, since there are not enough health care providers. Do you think the 84% want to wait months to see a doctor? Do they want government bureaucrat to determine what treatment they are allowed to have or, even worse, the treatment they are denied because it is not deemed "cost effective?"
The stimulus bill set up a committee that would determine what treatment is cost effective. The cost of treatment would be divided by the number of years the patient could benefit from it. Do you think the 84% want the government to determine what treatment they are allowed; what doctor they see; or, what medicine they take? Do you think the 84% want the government to make their life and death decisions?
Obviously, the answer is a resounding NO. We also don't want our benefits to be taxed to provide the benefits for the 16%. We can't afford our current taxes?
From June 10, 2009:
Please do not create a massive government run health care plan. We already have Medicaid and Medicare and cannot afford them. They are, at best, inferior plans filled with billing corruptions, limited treatments and medications, an subjective decisions by bureaucrats. They demonstrate how a national government health care plan would work - badly. Only 16% of Americans do not have health care insurance. Create a plan within the private sector to insure these citizens. The government could supplement insurance payments for those whose income meets a certain criteria. Do not create a one size fits all government run plan and do not tax health care benefits as income to try to force us into that plan.
Rushing Legislation
From a letter sent June 12, 2009.
To Congress,
Recently legislation is consistently being rushed through Congress. This is probably because if Congress actually knew everything that was in the bills they would not vote for it. Even the committees who produce these bills don't know the full extent of what is in them. The bills are being written by lawyers, experts, advisers, and maybe even aides. Congress should be writing these bills not minions.
Once these bills reach the floors of the House and Senate there is virtually no time for debate or even time to read the bills. We deserve BETTER REPRESENTATION than this. Congress needs to fully debate these issues and above all read the bills. Don't vote for a bill that you haven't read or don't fully understand. The devil is always in the details.
It is better to enact good legislation than it is to enact swift legislation. Let's not act in haste only to repent at leisure.
Signed,
The Electorate
To Congress,
Recently legislation is consistently being rushed through Congress. This is probably because if Congress actually knew everything that was in the bills they would not vote for it. Even the committees who produce these bills don't know the full extent of what is in them. The bills are being written by lawyers, experts, advisers, and maybe even aides. Congress should be writing these bills not minions.
Once these bills reach the floors of the House and Senate there is virtually no time for debate or even time to read the bills. We deserve BETTER REPRESENTATION than this. Congress needs to fully debate these issues and above all read the bills. Don't vote for a bill that you haven't read or don't fully understand. The devil is always in the details.
It is better to enact good legislation than it is to enact swift legislation. Let's not act in haste only to repent at leisure.
Signed,
The Electorate
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