The issue made news when, violating Senate rules, the amendment was withdrawn during the reading process.
However, you might have missed what happened just prior to Coburn's objection.
Sen. Coburn asked unanimous consent for an amendment certifying that all senators had read and understood the bill prior to voting on it:
"Mr. President, I have another unanimous consent request. Following consent request would be associated with a Coburn amendment that would certify that every member of the Senate has read the bill and understands it before they vote on the bill. And the reason I ask the unanimous consent that that amendment be agreed to and accepted is that's exactly what the American people expect us to be doing. And so we don't have a bill right now. We don't know what's going to be in the bill. The chairman has a good idea of what's going to be in the bill, but he doesn't know for sure. Only two sets of people, Senator Reid and his staff and CBO know what's going to be in the bill. I suspect somebody at the White House might. But we ought to -- we ought to take and embrace this idea of transparency and responsibility that the American people can expect every one of us to have read this bill plus the amended bill and certify that we have an understanding for what we're doing to health care in America with this bill. And I'd ask unanimous consent that that be accepted."
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) objected and here is the exchange:
"Reserving the right to object, I certainly agree with the basic underlying import that we should know what we're voting on here. I must say to my good friend that presumes a certain level of perception on my part and understanding in delving into the minds of the senator, that not only do they read, but take the time to understand. What does understand mean? Understand the first, second levels of questions? I think it is impossible to certify that any senator fully understood."
Senator Coburn: (12:00 PM) Responded.
"I would clarify my request, that the individual certify themselves. I'm not asking some group of senators to certify some other senator. I'm saying Tom Coburn tell his constituency, I've read this puppy, I've spent the time on it, I've read the manager's amendment, and I, in fact, certify to the people of Oklahoma, I know how terrible it's going to be for their health care."
Senator Baucus: (12:01 PM) Responded.
"The senator is always free to make any representation he wants. If he wants to certify he has read it, he has understood it, that's the senator's privilege."
So, the Senators, prior to voting do not have to certify to the American people that they have read - and understood - what they're voting on.
Personally, I think every bill in the House and Senate needs to have this certification on it. Maybe then, we'd have less ridiculousness coming out of Washington.
2 comments:
I whole heartedly agree with this emphasis. I can't even believe we would have to ask our legislators to do it. It should be part of the job. www.honorinoffice.org tells more of a formal initiative at the state level, mostly, that would make it a formal requirement that legislators HAVE to read the bill before voting. It is the only way we will ever get accountability into the legislative and representaive process.
What can we do to stop this Health Care bill? Who can we call? Who can we write to? I only make about $25,000.00 per year how will this affect me and my income? My husband needs a Kidney Transplant How will this affect him?
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