Pat Dollard

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CNN:

Washington – House Democrats appear to be softening their pledge to allow the public 72 hours to review the health care reform package online before a House vote. “We will certainly give as much notice as possible, but I’m not going to say that 72 hours is going to be the litmus test,” said Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Friday.

“The House bill or Senate bill, as proposed, has been online for some two-and-a-half months, otherwise known about 75 days,” Hoyer added, referring to the November and December dates each chamber passed its version of health care legislation.

But Democrats could vote as soon as next week on a series of changes to the health care package – called a reconciliation bill – and the number two House Republican criticized Hoyer directly on House floor.

“I’m a little bit taken aback that now that 72-hour rule has been completely cast aside, since nobody in the House has seen what’s in the reconciliation bill,” said Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Virginia.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised earlier this year Democrats would make the final health care bill public at least three days before voting.

“The House Democratic Leadership is committed to having the final health insurance reform legislation online for 72 hours before the House votes, for all Members and the American people to review. We will continue the transparent process this landmark legislation has had for months,” Pelosi wrote in a January press release.

Hoyer on Friday said that a three-day posting for the reconciled bill was his preference, but he said the American public had been waiting for health care reform since the time of President Theodore Roosevelt and action must be taken.

“There’s been ample time to review the bill, whether it’s the Senate bill or the House bill,” Hoyer told Cantor.

Cantor in turn called that lack of commitment “disturbing.”
“I think that’s consistent to the depiction that there is a ramming through going on,” he said.