Behind Closed Doors

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!

Don't Hide The Bills

In the last six months more and more Americans are paying attention to what is happening in Washington. Frankly most of them are appalled. The sleeping giant is now awake. A number of recent bills and policies should be challenged in the courts, because their constitutionality is very questionable.

Citizens now want to know what is in proposed legislation. We want to express our opinions to our congressmen and congresswomen. We want them to consider our opinions before voting. How can we do this if the bills are hidden from the public?

We were promised transparency. Where is it? All bills should be posted online at least five days before Congress votes on them. If they are good bills, the public will approve of them. If they are bad bills, they should not pass. Ours is a representative government. All we ask is that you truly represent us. You can only do this if you inform us and then consider our opinions.

This is especially true of the proposed health care bills. This affects one-sixth of our economy and our very lives. Don’t hide the bills from us. Give us time to read and consider the bills and to voice our concerns. Represent us – not special interests or individual parties.

Signed,
The Electorate