Bunning Transparency Amendment Rejected By Finance Committee Democrats
Washington, DC
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) today issued the following statement after Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee rejected his Transparency Amendment to the "Americaâs Healthy Future Act of 2009."
Senator Bunningâs amendment would have required that the legislative language and a final and complete cost analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) be made publicly available on the Finance Committeeâs website for at least 72 hours before the Finance Committee could vote on final passage of the bill.
"For a bill this big and important I donât think we should be relying on âconceptsâ and âpreliminary cost estimatesâ when we vote on the bill in committee," said Bunning. "Contrary to what the Democrats have argued, legislative language is important. The way the language is written will determine how the provisions of the bill will be implemented and how much they will actually cost. We need to have all the facts before we rush to a vote on this legislation. How can we possibly vote on a bill that hasnât even been written yet? It defies common sense. This bill will affect every American and I think it is our duty to provide full disclosure of all the facts. I donât see anything wrong with the committee taking a few extra weeks to ensure we get this right and so that all members of Congress and the public are given the opportunity to read the language and know what the true cost is."
Only one Democrat Sen. Blanche Lincoln, AR voted for Transperency and Honesty!!!
Washington, DC
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) today issued the following statement after Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee rejected his Transparency Amendment to the "Americaâs Healthy Future Act of 2009."
Senator Bunningâs amendment would have required that the legislative language and a final and complete cost analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) be made publicly available on the Finance Committeeâs website for at least 72 hours before the Finance Committee could vote on final passage of the bill.
"For a bill this big and important I donât think we should be relying on âconceptsâ and âpreliminary cost estimatesâ when we vote on the bill in committee," said Bunning. "Contrary to what the Democrats have argued, legislative language is important. The way the language is written will determine how the provisions of the bill will be implemented and how much they will actually cost. We need to have all the facts before we rush to a vote on this legislation. How can we possibly vote on a bill that hasnât even been written yet? It defies common sense. This bill will affect every American and I think it is our duty to provide full disclosure of all the facts. I donât see anything wrong with the committee taking a few extra weeks to ensure we get this right and so that all members of Congress and the public are given the opportunity to read the language and know what the true cost is."
Only one Democrat Sen. Blanche Lincoln, AR voted for Transperency and Honesty!!!