Pelosi: Pass Health Reform So You Can Find Out What’s In It

March 9, 2010 RSS Feed Print
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By Peter Roff, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

It has been said well and famously that politicians only really commit a gaffe when they tell the truth without meaning to. Add House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the list.

Speaking Tuesday to the 2010 Legislative Conference for the National Association of Counties, Pelosi began the windup of her healthcare pitch by alluding to the controversies over the healthcare bill and the process by which it has reached its current state. Then, just after saying, "It's going to be very, very exciting," Pelosi gaffed, telling the local elected officials assembled that Congress "[has] to pass the bill so you can find out what's in it, away from the fog of controversy."

This is the same Nancy Pelosi who, only weeks earlier, was bragging about the transparency of the process that produced the bill that is currently stalled in Congress. The same Pelosi who brushed aside concerns raised by organizations like Let Freedom Ring!--where I am a senior fellow--that members of Congress actually commit to reading the bill before voting for it and that it be posted online for at least 72 hours before any vote so that the American people can read it, too.

In fact, as supporters of the current healthcare bill will no doubt point out, the bill Pelosi and the White House are trying to move to the president's desk passed the Senate at Christmas. It has been on the Web for well over 72 hours; indeed it has been discussed and dissected by healthcare policy experts repeatedly over the last two months. But if that is the case, why is Pelosi telling the National Association of Counties that the bill has to pass before they--and the rest of us "can find out what's in it." What is she hiding?

 

Tags:
Congress,
Nancy Pelosi,
health insurance,
healthcare,
healthcare reform

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You may call NP's comment a gaff but if you knew how a bill becomes a law you would realize what she meant. The comment was crystal clear.

Joseph Doakes of NY 3:59PM May 25, 2012

Hunter of WI,

I like when you say "No country can out work the American workers,it's the goverment driving them out." Well you are right about one thing. It is the Government driving them out, but blaming it solely on Obama, Democrats or other liberal policies is misplaced. "It is the result of public policies that have concentrated and amplified the effects of the economic transformation and directed its gains exclusively toward the wealthy." "Since the late 1970s, a number of important policy changes have tilted the economic playing field toward the rich." "Congress has cut tax rates on high incomes repeatedly and has relaxed the tax treatment of capital gains and other investment income, resulting in windfall profits for the wealthiest Americans." For further reading

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67046/robert-c-lieberman/why-the-rich-are-getting-richer?page=show

Also I don't think Fox News is a problem either, but what does become a problem is when you only get news from one source, because then you become biased.

Daniel of TX 3:13AM January 10, 2011

You seem to be hiding yourself.I think you know exactly what a communist/socialist is.From reading your two posts,I'say you go socialist.If you seriously don't know what they mean may-be you should learn more before you're so quik to embrace their ideology.You say leave ideology out of it,that means just roll over,leave your beleifs and morals at the door and take what's given to you,not what you've worked for.By you saying fair and equitable you mean socialism,not working to well in Greece,Iceland and most of Europe.They're in alot worse shape than we are,we're heading that way fast.To the hard working,wheather rich or poor go the spoils,it's not for the goverment to take and give to where they see fit.As Bill of Mo.said,we already have 50-60 trillion in unfunded mandates.How about they take care of what they already have to do before they take on more.Show us they can do something right.Would you hire a failed contractor to work on your house?Twice?Three times?or more,that's what they want from us.If you say you don't like jackles feasting on your tax dollars,why give them more?They will only want more and more.You say education is the answer,what about vouchers and charter schools.Teachers union pension fund is broke.Depending on the area schools spend 10,000 to 18,000 per year per student they say that's not enough and they want to cut the school week to four days.I'M SICK OF MY MONEY FOR MY OLD AGE BEING TAXED AWAY TO BAIL OUT BANKRUPT UNION PENSION FUNDS.And you say leave my ideology out of it,just roll me over.I don't think you're hiding youself very well.Why are you affraid of Fox News?Are you affraid of an informed electorate?Are you affraid of people that might question your motives?They show.Because I oppose Obama and his agenda you say I'm not patriotic,WELL LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING A HOLE,MY GRANDFATHER MY FATHER MY BROTHER FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY,I FLY MY FLAG!!Choose your words!!Obama is no more a centraist than the man on the moon.One more thing,they're trans national companies mainly because they can't afford to do business in this country.No country can out work the American workers,it's the goverment driving them out.

Hunter of WI 10:18PM March 12, 2010

Peter Roff

Peter Roff

Peter Roff is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report. Formerly a senior political writer for United Press International, he’s now affiliated with several public policy organizations including Let Freedom Ring, and Frontiers of Freedom. His writing has appeared in National Review, Fox News’ opinion section, The Daily Caller, Politico and elsewhere. Follow him on Twitter @PeterRoff.

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