Read the Bill

The rush to pass so much legislation in Congress these last few months has brought a cry for legislators to read the bill. Many citizens are starting to realize what many insiders have known for some time. Most members of Congress vote on bills and have no idea what’s in them.

Debate about the health care bill brought new revelations. Representative John Conyers (D-MI) made fun of members of Congress who he said were pretending to read the laws they pass. At the National Press Club he said: “I love these members, they get up and say, ‘Read the bill.” Even if they did, he felt it would unproductive. He said: “What good is reading the bill if it’s a thousand pages and you don’t have two days and two lawyers to find out what it means after you’ve read the bill?”

If the bill is that complicated, then you would think that members of Congress would want to go slow and understand all the implications. Some have argued that if the bill is that complicated, that means it is destined to be ineffective.

Members of Congress should read the bill and try to comprehend what will happen if it is passed. While there are many convoluted phrases in this Byzantine legislation, there are nevertheless some basic principles that anyone can understand.

For example, the House bill uses the word “shall” 1,683 times. This assertive word sets forth the government mandates that will force doctors, clinics, hospitals, and others in the health care system to do what the government orders them to do.

The word “penalty” is used 156 times. That is what happens to people who do not do what government mandates them to do. The word “tax” is used 172 times. That is when we pay for these government rules and mandates. The House bill also creates 53 new federal bureaucracies. It also creates or expands 33 entitlement programs.

If members of Congress won’t read the bill, perhaps they should at least count the number of times words like shall, penalty, and tax are used. It sure looks like a massive government intrusion into health care. I’m Kerby Anderson, and that’s my point of view.