A Slip of the Republican Tongue

The Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee argued for additional time to read the Baucus health care bill before voting on it.  Although they asked for 72 hours, the work and procedures arising out of that time could add up to three weeks to the process, according to press accounts.  I note that none of the Republicans cared to read George Bush's Patriot Act and they ignored similar requests by Democrats for more time to review.  In fact,  the Republican leadership forced it through to a floor vote in the House in just one day. 

In support of the Republicans' request to delay the health care bill, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), revealed that the  Republicans did not ask for the time so that the senators and/or their staff members could read the bill, but so the insurance lobbyists  could read the bill and have time to come up with additional roadblocks.  Mike Madden at Salon.com reports that Roberts stated the following:

All the Senator from Kentucky is asking is for 72 hours to determine the cost. Senator Snowe has spoken eloquently about sunshine, and the openness, and the fact that the American people would support this 90 percent, 95 percent. But the thing that I’m trying to point out is we would have at least 72 hours for the people that the providers have hired to keep up with all of the legislation that we pass around here, and the regulations that we pass around here, to say “hey, wait a minute. Have you considered this?” 

oops.