This story from Sarah Kliff on Vox made me chortle, if only because I can also see the Democrats laughing with glee, if behind their hands, as they pursued the rabbit. The rabbit? Why, it’s the lop-eared replacement for the ACA:
Democratic House members and Republican senators were not to be included in this process [of reviewing the bill early on]. But by Thursday morning, they decided to take the matter into their own hands.
The draft legislation was rumored to be in H-157, a nondescript meeting room in the House of Representatives. When legislators arrived, Capitol Police were guarding the entrance, and dozens of reporters were waiting outside for the much-anticipated legislation.
But the first Congress member to arrive — Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who appeared to have a mobile printer in tow, perhaps to make copies of the bill — was promptly denied entry.
“We’re here asking for written copy of this because this should be an open and transparent process,” Paul said after being denied entry into Room H-157. “This is being presented as if it’s a national secret. As if it’s a plot to invade another country.”
What a wonderful story! As Matt Fuller reports on HuffPo …
The top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), showed up with committee member Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and began holding court, bashing Republicans for the secrecy.
“The speaker has so many times said ― he was, I guess, on Matt Lauer a couple days ago ― he said this whole process was going to be transparent, there were going to be committee hearings, we’re going to get the bill in advance, and, now, you know, from what we’re hearing, they may go to markup on Wednesday,” Pallone said.
Sounds like another example of GOP leaders going back on their word. Don’t these guys get it? Not only are they laying themselves open for campaign reprisals in a year and a half from the Democrats, they’re also becoming more and more vulnerable to the RINO crowd, Ryan in particular.
But I’ll bet at least half the Democrats thought it was fun to search for the treasure. I just hope they don’t end up with poo, instead, as many commentators expect from the GOP replacement.
