[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/06/art.2bachmann.cnn.jpg caption="Rep. Michelle Bachmann said Tuesday that 90 days ought to be set aside to consider the final health care bill in the House."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Minnesota Republican Rep. Michelle Bachmann said congressional Democrats were not guaranteeing lawmakers enough time to read the final version of health care reform legislation before they vote, telling conservative bloggers Tuesday that the majority party might be more interested in giving President Obama a political victory than in passing an effective plan.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently pledged to post the final bill online for at least 72 hours before the House votes. But Bachmann said Pelosi's pledge is not enough.
"Three days is an embarrassment," Bachmann said Tuesday at the Heritage Foundation's weekly blogger lunch. "It shows how embarrassed these Democrats are of their bill. They know this health care bill is radioactive with the American public and if they give the American public more than three days to read this bill, all hell might break loose and they might never get this bill actually passed and done.
"It shows, again, that they have no confidence in their health care bill. They have no confidence in their leadership to be able to explain this bill."
Instead, the Minnesota Republican suggested that a minimum of three months is a more appropriate time to consider the final version of health care reform legislation in the House.
"This really needs to be about bettering the health care system, not giving 'a win' to the president, because health care shouldn't be about President Obama. It shouldn't be about him. It should be about us. It should be about the country," she said.
The version of the health care reform bill drafted by the Senate Finance Committee is currently online and an online campaign begun last month to encourage Members of Congress to read bills before voting on them has garnered more than 100,000 pledges, according to the campaign's Web site.
More Republican rhetoric !
Michelle Bachman is just spouting so she can be noticed!
Let's take Healthcare away from all the senators and Congressmen/women and see how they like living with-out health-care. Can we get a vote on that?
Republicans should be embarrassed that she is requesting 90 days to read a bill. I'd be embarrassed to be getting paid to read bills if I couldn't do it in 3. No wonder these morons never get anything done!
Instead, the Minnesota Republican suggested that a minimum of three months is a more appropriate time to consider the final version of health care reform legislation in the House.
THREE DAY IS MORE THEN ENOUGH. YOU REPUBICANS HAD 8 YEARS TO GET THIS RIGHT AND NOW YOU WANT THREE MORE MONTHS. ALLL THE GOP WANT IS TO MAKE SURE PRESIDENT OBAMA DON'T HAVE A BILL BY THIS YEAR BECASUE THREE MONTHS WILL GO INTO NEXT YEARS. ALL THE GOP IS THINKING ABOUT IS 2010 AND HOW TO KEEP THE PRESIDENT FROM DOING HIS JOB IN 2009.
House Republicans are embarrassed by Bachmann. After debating health care for 40 years, let's debate for another 40 years so the proposed bill can received "due consideration". There can be no one more cynical, or mentally insane, than Michelle Bachmann who is the health insurance lobby's prostitute in Congress. No other country on the planet has a system so unfairly rigged in favor of insurance companies and against patients, than the U.S.
What's the big deal about giving congress and the public a few months to analyze the bill?
If it's so urgent, why does it not take affect until after the next presidential election? I think anyone with the capacity to think for themselves can figure that out...
House Republican should be embarrass by Bachmann. I don't know why people keep voting for her. This is the most ignorant woman in Washington.
I can't stand this lady!
I'm glad she's not my rep. "Oh boohoo. My job is too tuff. And I can't read a children's book in 3 days, much less a bill!"
What in the world are you getting paid for Michelle?
who cares what this squawking mad-eyed moonbat idiot says about anything? Bachmann is an embarrassment to Minnesota and to America.
Michelle Bachman should be put in a mental institute. She goes on Hard Ball and gets embarrassed. Then she LIES about how she not watching the show before and didn't know what it would be about.
Michelle Bachmann...you need look no further than the source.
One other comment. What does it matter how much time they have to read it? Many admitted that they didn't read the other bills and still said they would vote no. When you've already made up your mind, what's the point in delaying the vote?
Our inexperienced and inept leadership between Pelosi and the Constant Campaigner have consistently been an embarrassment domestically and internationally. You know its glaringly sad when French President Sarkozy has to correct our President – pathetic.
Yes. Nancy Pelosi should know better. Only 72 hours, that's three days to look at a bill. She should realize that republicans can't read that fast. And combined with their attention deficits, when it comes to any other ideas but their own, probably complicates matters. Republicans were given numerous chances to help shape and develop a Health Care bill but refused to participate or cooperate in any fashion whatsoever. Bottom line, they only care about the lobbyists and big business. The average American citizen can take a long walk off a short pier, as far as they are concerned!
Fully agree!
1. The Blue Dogs reject the bill. Last time I checked they were democrats.
2. The far left Dems rejected the Baucus bill. Last time I checked Baucus is a democrat.
3. The Dems own the Senate, the House, and the White House. Embarassed? OK ! Incapable? More like it!
Stop talking, Michelle. Thanks.
I seriously like to know does Minnesotians have any common sense to have elected this brainless politician. This woman just talks and talks and talks and none of it makes sense!
When a congressperson complains that they don't have time to read the final bill, they are lying, lying, and lying. When a bill is introduced in Congress, the bill has line numbers for every line. When there is an amendment made, those parts deleted are crossed out, but left on, and the additions are highlighted. So all someone has to do if they want to know what the final bill says, is to read the change. That is if, and only if, they have been reading the bill all along. What these liars are saying is they have to read the entire bill in those finally three days, and that is a lie, unless of course, they were to lazy to read the bill when it was first introduced.
In the meantime, can we please read, see, or hear, something from the repugs on health care. ANYTHING.
And we're all embarrassed that a majority in ANY district put that woman in Congress-TWICE.
...And furthermore, let me explain to you what all the rush is about: it's about trying to get this thing passed BEFORE we lose our majority in Congress in 2010. Look at the difficulty we're having with the majority. Can you imagine the President trying to get this done with the RethugliKlans having a bigger vote in Congress?? Fuggetaboutit!
If anyone knows "embarrassment", it'd be Michelle Bachmann – she's the walking, talking definition of the word.
The bill isn't supposed to be enacted for until 2013, why is that. With 4 years before it starts why not another 30 days to allow people to read it?
WHY is CNN even covering this vile woman? She is ignorant, divisive, hateful.
45,000 Americans DIE every year from lack of healthcare.
IF 45,000 Americans were dying every year from a terrorist attack, you can bet, the Republicans would be rioting in the streets and wanting to nuke the Middle-east!
However, 45,000 Americans die every year from lack of healthcare and the Republicans do NOTHING but obstruct, and deny healthcare for Americans who need it!
She just wants us to die quickly and quietly...