Democrats Block GOP Health Care Mailing
Roll Call
Democrats are preventing Republican House Members from sending their constituents a mailing that is critical of the majority’s health care reform plan, blocking the mailing by alleging that it is inaccurate.
House Republicans are crying foul and claiming that the Democrats are using their majority to prevent GOP Members from communicating with their constituents.
The dispute centers on a chart created by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee to illustrate the organization of the Democratic health care plan.
At first glance, Brady’s chart resembles a board game: a colorful collection of shapes and images with a web of lines connecting them.
But a closer look at the image reveals a complicated menagerie of government offices and programs that Republicans say will be created if the leading Democratic health care plan becomes law.
In a memo sent Monday to Republicans on the House franking commission, Democrats argue that sending the chart to constituents as official mail would violate House rules because the information is misleading.
In their eight-point memo, which was obtained by Roll Call, Democrats identify a litany of areas where they believe the chart is incorrect.
Republican Members have made 20 requests to mail a version of the chart to their constituents and have been told that the requests are being delayed while the commission reviews allegations that the chart is misleading.
“Hiding the truth about wildly unpopular policies is a Democrat specialty,” said one GOP aide. “I’d like to see the flow chart on how Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi plans on implementing the open and transparent government she keeps promising everyone.”
Wild Thing’s comment…….
Democrats are giving this even more publicity by their being jerks about this. Thanks to their tyranny, this chart is getting more publicity than it otherwise would.
Congress should not have franking privileges anyway. Let them pay for postage like the rest of us.
If they did send it out the people would get a first hand look at what is in store for them. One huge bureaucratic mass of overregulating, schemers trying their best to make sure nobody gets the health care needed.
“Democrats are preventing Republican House Members from sending their constituents a mailing that is critical of the majority’s health care reform plan, blocking the mailing by alleging that it is inaccurate.”
Given that logic virtually all congressional mailings should be stopped as almost everything from a politician is misleading and inaccurate.
Tom, DITTO that 100%!
Mark, yessss.
Every chance I get I have been trying
to share with people at the gym and
other places about the Health Care
bill. Some know a little about it,
others had no idea what all was in
it. I tell them I have no idea all
the things but the little I do know
about it is horrible.
Bob A., hhaha most of them are yes.
I had to look up franking privilege, ok free stamps. Looking further this practice dates back to the House of Commons of 1660. In 1775 the First Continental Congress approved franking privileges for themselves. primarily for communicating with their constituents. Which I think they should have the right to do. Of course its politics, that’s why we are all here.
As far as I am concerned the democrats are refusing the republicans their rights they have had for over 230 years. The Congressmen should have this privilege because they represent the People of their state. And a couple of million supporters at 42 cents a stamp that is a good chunk of change. I can accept that for either party, its the peoples business.
The democrats refusing, because they have the majority, is flat wrong. the whole thing behind the democrat bills is secrecy, not to let the public know what is going on. These Republicans with af few exception think WE THE PEOPLE have a right to know and I agree with them.
The health care bill will adversely affect everybody in the country, who doesn’t think we should not know what we are in for. As an aspiring Senior citizen, I want to know for sure. Especially when some bureaucrat will tell me its time for your pre-death interview.
‘No I am not ready yet’, he says, ‘well we think you are’. Since us old people are going to be carrying the brunt of this Health Care fiasco, I certainly want to know about it.
Mark, wow very interesting, thank you
so much.
This says it all and I agree with you.
“The democrats refusing, because they have the majority, is flat wrong. the whole thing behind the democrat bills is secrecy, not to let the public know what is going on. These Republicans with af few exception think WE THE PEOPLE have a right to know and I agree with them.”